A photo of the upcoming Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link has sparked discussion on Reddit over the Singapore–Malaysia boundary on the bridge.
The image showed the marine viaduct stretching across the Straits of Johor, with one side appearing grey and painted, while the other looked like bare concrete.
Many users quickly noted that the difference may stem from a common infrastructure practice.
The paint gave it away
Several commenters identified the painted section as Malaysia’s side and the unpainted section as Singapore’s.
One user noted that Singapore generally does not paint MRT or LRT viaducts, while Malaysia commonly uses a grey colour scheme for its rail viaducts.
Others joked that the contrast was so obvious it became an accidental border marker.
One commenter even compared it to stories about the Scotland–England border, where locals supposedly maintained only their side of a shared landscape.
Why not paint both sides?
The visual difference also sparked debate.
Some felt the bridge should either be fully painted or left entirely unpainted for consistency.
Others commented that paint needs maintenance, particularly in a marine environment where salt exposure can accelerate paint deterioration and wear.
As one of the commenters said, paint can be quickly an eyesore if it is not well taken care of.
What is the RTS link?
According to Singapore’s Land Transport Authority, the RTS Link is a bilateral rail project connecting Woodlands North in Singapore to Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru.
The 4km line will cross the Straits of Johor via a 25-metre-high bridge and is expected to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction during peak periods.
Travel time between the two stations is expected to take around five minutes.
The RTS Link is currently targeted to begin passenger service by the end of 2026.
A key feature of the project is its co-located customs, immigration and quarantine facilities, allowing passengers to clear both Singapore and Malaysian checkpoints before departure instead of upon arrival.
For many, the painted and unpainted sections became an unexpectedly easy way to tell where one country ends and the other begins — at least from a distance.
See the post here:
Which side is Singapore's, and which side is Malaysia's?
byu/Zkang123 insingapore
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