Johor Bahru construction update – 2024 edition

I previously visited Johor Bahru in 2022 to report on construction and transport projects. There are now plans to build a 3-line light rail system, and Johor has dreams of becoming the Shenzhen of Southeast Asia. I made a metro concept map that JB should built if it wants to become an international metropolis like Shenzhen.

I was going from KL to Singapore by rail, so I figured I should stop in JB on the way and do a construction report. This is an overview of some of the major projects under construction in Johor Bahru at the time of my visit in April 2024.

Transport

Gemas-Johor Bahru electrified double-tracking rail project

Going from KL to JB by train currently requires two separate trains. If you are going to Singapore it is three trains in total (I have written about that here). At the moment there is only one service a day that is possible by train, otherwise, you have to get the bus or fly (a route that is so short that it shouldn’t exist).

The electric double-tracking project is progressing slowly, with the most recent update reporting that the line will be ready by 2025. This will mean that there will be direct trains from KL that will be faster than the current diesel rail service from Gemas to JB. With a double track it will also be able to run more frequent services.

This is a different route to the proposed KL-Singapore high-speed railway, which doesn’t stop in Johor Bahru City.

Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System (RTS Link)

The Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System (RTS Link) is the most prominent project in JB, and it’s a project that will change the fortunes of the city. The RTS Link is a transit line connecting JB to Singapore, and at will be one of the few international transit lines in the world (there are a few in Europe)

There is currently a JB-Woodlands shuttle train, which runs infrequently and peak-hour services sell out weeks in advance. There is no MRT station at Woodlands, so you need to get a bus to the nearest station. I walked from Woodlands to Marsiling MRT, which took 22 minutes. This is not a walk that you would want to do every day.

The RTS will run frequent services and you can just turn up without prebooking. Immigration for both countries will be processed together, so you can walk out of the station. The Woodlands North station is at the northern terminus of the Thomson–East Coast line, so JB will become a less painful commute for Singapore workers.

The bridge across the strait is making progress. It was reported that the project was 65% complete at the start of 2024, and it will be ready by December 2026.

The elevated line runs by R&F apartment project, but there is no stop here (sorry, R&F residents).

The line then does a turn along the front entrance of JB Sentral.

The terminal station (Bukit Chagar) is to the north of JB Sentral and is not connected to the station.

Many of the apartment projects in the city are selling themselves as being “x minutes walk from the RTS”, but so far I haven’t found any plans for an elevated walkway. It’s difficult to walk around this area so elevated walkways will be essential.

Construction

R&F Princess Cove

R&F Princess Cove is a multi-tower apartment development that has been built as a dormitory city for Singapore workers. R&F is a developer from China, and they have built this in the style of Chinese cities with cookie-cutter towers tightly packed together. This is a development style that has become prominent in Vietnam, and I have not seen one that I like yet.

I walked around on a Sunday morning, and there was not much open so I couldn’t get a feel if it gets any livelier.

Many of the apartments had washing hanging out on the balcony, so there were at least some signs of life.

Most of the advertising blurb sells its prominence to Singapore.

R&F is connected to JB Sentral by a 900-metre elevated walkway, so it makes it easy for Singapore workers to roll out of bed and make their way south of the border.

There are many bicycles and scooters chained up at either end that people use to traverse the walkway, saving precious minutes from the daily commute.

The walkway had been cut in half when I visited to make room for the RTS construction.

Coronation Square

I happened to be in JB on the first weekend after Ramadan, which explained why I couldn’t find a cheap room in the city centre. Being here during the Eid al-Fitr holiday meant that the construction workers were having a break. It was hard to tell what was abandoned and what was still under construction.

Coronation Square looked the same as my last visit in 2022, so I assumed it was abandoned. The sales showroom was open though, and I found out that it’s still under construction. One of the issues has been with the signature tower. They have applied to make it taller so it can be the tallest building in the city (height unspecified).

The showroom has a model of the project showing walkways to JB Sentral. After seeing how useful the R&R walkway is, I would like to see the city latticed with elevated walkways.

There are some empty lots in the city centre which have been reserved as space for walkways to Coronation Square.

Quayside JBCC

Quayside JBCC is a proposed apartment tower in the old town area. The tower design looks great, though having a tower with a big car park podium in the old town isn’t a good precedent. If these apartments are being advertised as being close to Singapore as a feature, then why not be bold and offer no car parking? If you want the privilege of living in the old town with access to Singapore, then there should be enough buyers who don’t want a car. Adding more cars to the city centre isn’t going to solve JB’s traffic crisis.

After seeing the design of Quayside, I wish that the R&F project had been made to design unique towers and add some space between them. If JB wants to compete with Singapore it has to build a better city, and not think of itself as a dormitory for Singapore.

I will return to JB either once the upgraded railway opens or when the RTS opens (hopefully both will be ready at the same time). It would be good if one of the LRT lines had begun construction by then as well. A full list of projects can be found at Future Johor.