Malaysia: Johor Sultan gives consent for straight bridge to Singapore

The Star 17 Nov 17;

JOHOR BARU: Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, has consented to the construction of a 25m-high Rapid Transit System (RTS) straight bridge across the Strait of Johor.

The ruler gave his consent at an audience granted to Land Public Transport Commission CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah and several other senior officers at Istana Bukit Pelangi here last Wednesday.

The audience was granted for the submission of three options on the RTS alignment after taking into consideration the proposal Sultan Ibrahim made when SPAD officers had an audience with the ruler on Sept 19.

"The sultan granted consent for a 25m-high bridge straight across the Straits of Johor. The alignment adheres to the technical guidelines of the Malaysian Marine Department that requires a minimum 25m air draft (clearance height from water to a vessel's height)," SPAD said in a statement here Friday.

The statement said SPAD wished to record its highest appreciation to Sultan Ibrahim for his support and consent for the RTS project.

SPAD also wished to record its appreciation to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan for his leadership and guidance in the RTS project, it said.

The construction of the RTS was proposed in May 2010 as an alternative transport for the 80,000 to the 100,000 users of the Johor Causeway daily.

It is expected to facilitate travel for up to 10,000 passengers every hour between the two stations, namely Woodlands in Singapore and Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru. – Bernama


Sultan of Johor consents revised Rapid Transit System Link alignment design
Rizalman Hammim New Straits Times 17 Nov 17;

JOHOR BARU: Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has agreed on the revised Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link alignment design as proposed by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

The ruler conveyed his agreement after granting an audience with SPAD chief executive officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah and his senior management team at Istana Bukit Pelangi here on Tuesday, where they presented the ruler with several options for the project.

In a statement, SPAD said these alignment options took into account the suggestions made by Sultan Ibrahim during an earlier audience that the ruler granted on September 19.

“His Majesty has agreed to the option of a 25m high bridge which will cross the Straits of Johor in a straight line, while still complying with the Marine Department technical guidelines for a minimum of 25m air draught clearance.

“His Majesty also stressed the importance of ensuring adequate traffic dispersal at the RTS Bukit Chagar station area, and SPAD will act on it,” SPAD said.

The commission said it wishes to convey its gratitude to Sultan Ibrahim for giving his full support for the RTS project, and extended its appreciation to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan for his guidance on the project.

In August, Sultan Ibrahim expressed his reservations on the proposed design of the RTS rail track, including an elevated bridge, linking Woodlands in Singapore and Bukit Chagar, Johor Baru.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with the New Straits Times Press group, Sultan Ibrahim said while he welcomed the project, he disagreed with the overall curve-shaped design of the track, as well as the plan to build the bridge as high as 30m above water in the middle section.

He was reported as saying that the bridge would disrupt the city skyline along the Johor Straits, adding the proposed curved design of the rail link, as well as the elevated bridge, was impractical, unsustainable and potentially costly.

In September, Abdul Rahman met Sultan Ibrahim to provide details on the RTS project and the ruler had expressed his views

The RTS, which was announced by the Malaysian and Singaporean governments seven years ago, is expected to accommodate up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction between its terminus stations at Bukit Chagar and Woodlands.

On the Singapore side, the rail link will join the republic's Mass Rapid Transit at its upcoming Thomson East Coast Line (TEL), which will open in phases from 2019 to 2024.


Johor Sultan approves straight bridge for JB-Woodlands rail link
Channel NewsAsia 17 Nov 17

JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor has agreed to a revised design of a straight, elevated bridge for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) rail track connecting Johor Baru and Woodlands in Singapore.

Malaysia's land transport authority said in a media statement on Friday (Nov 17) that Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar agreed on the revised plan proposed by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) after a meeting on Wednesday.

The earlier plan was for a curved rail track as well as an elevated bridge as high as 30m above water in the middle section.

Sultan Ibrahim in August had criticised the previous design plan, saying that besides being impractical, unsustainable and potentially costly, the curved shape and 30m height would disrupt the city skyline along the Johor Straits, according to a previous NST report.

In its statement on Friday, SPAD said: "His Majesty agreed to the option of a 25m high bridge which will cross the Straits of Johor in a straight line while still complying with Marine Department technical guidelines for a minimum 25m air draught clearance.

"These alignment options took into account the suggestions made by His Majesty during the earlier audience that His Majesty granted on 19th September 2017."

Sultan Ibrahim also stressed the importance of ensuring adequate traffic dispersal at the RTS Bukit Chagar station area, which SPAD said it will "act on it".

The RTS Link was first announced in 2010, and is expected to begin passenger service by the end of December 2024.

Singapore has confirmed that its RTS terminus will be located at Woodlands North station, along the Thomson-East Coast MRT line, while Malaysia has chosen Bukit Chagar as its main terminal for the RTS.

The RTS Link will be able to carry up to 10,000 passengers in each direction every hour. Once it begins passenger service, the existing KTMB Tebrau shuttle will cease operations.
Source: CNA/kc


Johor Sultan agrees to straight bridge
Straits Times 18 Nov 17;

JOHOR BARU • The ruler of Johor has agreed to the construction of a straight elevated bridge for a new rail line linking Johor Baru and Woodlands, Malaysia's land transport authority said yesterday.

The earlier plan was for a curved bridge for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link across the Strait of Johor.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar agreed on the revised route as proposed by the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) after a meeting on Wednesday.

The ruler said in August that the curved bridge idea was impractical, unsustainable and potentially costly.

"His Majesty agreed to the option of a 25m-high bridge which will cross the Strait of Johor in a straight line while still complying with Marine Department technical guidelines for a minimum 25m air draught clearance," Spad said in a statement.

"His Majesty also stressed the importance of ensuring adequate traffic dispersal at the RTS Bukit Chagar station area, and Spad will act on it."

Asked for its reaction, a spokesman for Singapore's Ministry of Transport said: "Singapore has been in discussions with the Malaysian government on various aspects of the Johor Baru-Singapore RTS Link project, including its alignment."

The RTS link will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru and the planned Woodlands North MRT station, which is part of the upcoming Thomson-East Coast (TEL) Line.

The TEL MRT line is expected to open in phases from 2019 to 2024. Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to jointly appoint an operating company to run and maintain the cross-border line's operating systems, with Singapore's SMRT Corp and Malaysia's Prasarana being invited to be part of the venture.

In August, Sultan Ibrahim told the New Straits Times in an interview that while he welcomed the RTS, he disagreed with the overall curved design of the bridge as well as building it 30m above water in the middle of the Strait of Johor. He said such a design would disrupt the Johor Baru city skyline.

The RTS, which was announced seven years ago, is expected to accommodate up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction between the two terminus stations.