On paper, it is possible for a train running non-stop from KL Sentral to reach JB Sentral, a rail distance of 330km, in three hours, given the design speed of the alignment, which is 160kph. However, such arguments ignore the reality that any crossing into Singapore from Johor Baru will run into the massive crowd heading in and out of Johor and Singapore – making it among the world’s busiest land crossings – almost daily. Due to the expected high number of cross-border travellers, crossing into Singapore using the LRT will take some time during peak hours, which starts even before 5am on the Johor Baru side. This 90-minute cross-border journey time is guaranteed as all immigration or customs formalities will be completed before the passenger boards the train, whether in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Samuel Tan, CEO of Johor-based Olive Tree Property Consultants, a boutique property consultancy, said there is still ample room for the cross-border HSR.

Source: The Star December 28, 2025 09:45 UTC