RTS Link draws only 32% firm commitment: survey

One in five remain undecided on riding the new line at all.

Three in four Singaporeans (75%) said they are likely to use the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link within its first year of operation, but only 32% said they will definitely do so, according to a survey from Blackbox Research.

A further 43% said they will "probably" use the link, whilst 20% remain undecided, saying they "may or may not" ride it.

Only 4% ruled out using the link altogether, with 2% saying they will probably not use it and another 2% saying they definitely will not.

Respondents also expect their visits to Johor Bahru to become more frequent once the link opens, with 19% saying they will travel to Johor "much more often," and 39% "a little more often".

A further 29% expect to visit "about as often as now”, whilst only 6% said they will visit "a little less often," 1% "a lot less often," and 5% said they do not expect to visit at all.

In terms of what they see themselves doing in Johor at least quarterly, 55% of respondents pointed to buying groceries or other everyday items, whilst 54% said dining at restaurants, cafes, or bars, and 51% said shopping for clothes, household items, or personal services.

Spending a weekend or staying overnight, and spending time with friends or family, each accounted for 43%, whilst another 20% cited entertainment, sport, or recreational activities, and 9% said they will work remotely or study from Johor.

Meeting clients, colleagues, or business partners, and exploring business or investment opportunities each accounted for 7%, whilst “none of these” factored in 8%.

"This goes beyond faster travel. Johor Bahru is becoming a routine extension of domestic spending, assuming border checks remain fast and predictable," Blackbox said.