The RTS Link between Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar is now targeted to start in February 2027, not December 2026, and that date still depends on safety certification. Until it runs, you still cross by Causeway or Second Link. Bukit Chagar station sits beside JB Sentral in the city centre, so that is the area to look at, but do not book a stay that only works if the train is running.
This is a practical guide for Singapore visitors planning trips from now into early 2027. It separates what the authorities have actually said from what is still guesswork, then shows how to pick a homestay either way.
Is the RTS Link open yet, and when will it start?
No. On the Land Transport Authority's own release in October 2026, passenger service is "now expected to commence in February 2027". The same release says the operator expects to finish final system tests and trial runs by 31 December 2026, and then needs safety certification from an independent assessor, which authorities in both countries must review before passengers can be carried. It describes the infrastructure on both sides as substantially complete.
Read that carefully: February 2027 is a target, not an opening date. If the certification step takes longer, the date moves again, as it already has once (the earlier target was the end of 2026).
| Question | What is known (as of 23 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Start date | Targeted February 2027, subject to certification and approvals |
| Route | Woodlands North (Singapore) to Bukit Chagar (Johor Bahru), about 4 km |
| Ride time | About 5 minutes, as reported by travel guides |
| Immigration | Customs and immigration for both countries are done together at the station you leave from, so there is no second check on arrival |
| Fare | Not announced. Figures like S$5 to S$7 circulating online are estimates, not official |
| Opening hours and frequency | Not announced |
Please check the Land Transport Authority and the operator before you plan around any of the open items. Things change, and this article will not update itself.
Where exactly is Bukit Chagar station?
It is next to JB Sentral, in the Johor Bahru city centre. That puts it near Komtar JBCC and City Square Mall.
We deliberately do not quote walking minutes here. Listings often say "5 minutes to the station" for places that are really a 12 to 15 minute walk in the heat, with a main road to cross. Before you book anything, open a map, set the route from the exact building to Bukit Chagar, and look at the walking time yourself. A building that is a short Grab ride away is also fine, as long as you know that is what you are choosing.
Should you pay more to stay right next to the station?
For most trips, not yet. Three reasons.
- The train is not running. Any premium you pay today for "next to RTS" buys you nothing before February 2027 at the earliest.
- Fare and hours are unknown. If a ticket turns out to be more than you expect, or the last train leaves earlier than your dinner ends, the "just walk to the station" advantage shrinks.
- Where you are going matters more. If your weekend is Desaru, Legoland or Mount Austin, you will be in a car or Grab for most of it. The station only helps for the first and last hour of the trip. We go through that in more detail in where to stay in JB for a weekend from Singapore.
Where the station will genuinely help is a short city-centre trip: arrive by train, drop your bag, eat, shop, sleep, and go home by train, with no car at all.
Which kind of trip suits staying near Bukit Chagar?
| Your trip | Near Bukit Chagar? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two-night city break, shopping and food, no car | Good fit | You can reach the unit and the malls on foot or a short ride once the train runs |
| Day trip with a bag drop before dinner | Possible | Useful if you can leave luggage somewhere sensible; we explain checkout and luggage in homestay check-out day in JB |
| Family with a car heading to Legoland or Desaru | Not a priority | You will cross by road and park either way |
| Group of friends, late-night | Check the last train time first | Hours have not been announced |
| Long stay of a week or more | Neutral | You will make the trip only once or twice |
What should you do for trips before the RTS opens?
Plan as if it does not exist. Concretely:
- Cross by Causeway or Second Link and allow for the queues. Sunday evenings returning to Singapore are the slow ones, which we cover in the check-out article above.
- Do not book dates around a hoped-for opening. If you want to try the RTS Link on its first week, book a refundable option and wait until the operator announces a firm date and fare.
- Choose by building and neighbourhood, not by the word "RTS". Facilities, parking, lift access and the quality of the unit matter more for the nights you actually sleep there.
If you are looking at dates between November 2026 and March 2027, our guide to booking around Singapore school holidays and long weekends will help with timing. Peak weekends fill first whether or not the train exists.
What will the train change for prices and demand?
Nobody knows yet, and anyone who gives you a number is guessing. The sensible expectation, which is an expectation and not a forecast, is that city-centre units near the station will become more popular with short-stay visitors from Singapore. That can mean fuller weekends in that area. We do not promise lower or higher prices as a result.
What we can say plainly: we manage more than 100 units across Johor Bahru and Desaru, including city-centre buildings such as KSL D'Esplanade and Paragon Suite. We are not going to tell you a particular unit is "RTS-ready", because we have not seen the final station routes and fares either. When they are announced, we will check walking routes from each city-centre building and say what we find.
How do you book a homestay without betting on the train?
- Decide whether this is a city-centre trip or a destination trip.
- Pick two or three buildings and check each one's walking route on a map.
- Compare the total price, including cleaning fee, against a hotel room for the same number of people. Booking direct often saves the platform fee; we show the maths in book direct vs Airbnb.
- Check how you will pay from Singapore before you commit: cards, FPX and e-wallets behave differently, covered in how to pay for a JB homestay from Singapore.
- Keep the Causeway or Second Link as your plan A until the RTS Link has a published fare, hours and an actual first day.
This article is general travel information, not transport or legal advice. Schedules and fares are set by the authorities and the operator and may change.
When you are ready to pick a unit in the city centre or elsewhere in Johor Bahru, you can see what is available and book direct at /booking.