SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to open a rapid transit rail service by 2018 to connect the city-state with the southern Malaysian city of Johor Bahru.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday in a joint statement that representatives of the two countries signed the agreement in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
The Southeast Asian neighbors agreed last year to develop the link, but hadn't set a timetable for its opening. Two bridges currently connect northern Singapore with southern Johor state.
The rapid transit deal is part of a broader land swap that gives Singapore control beginning July 1 of a railroad and stations owned by Malaysia since the two countries separated in 1965. In return, Malaysia will receive six land parcels in Singapore
