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While the idea of hopping into an e-hailing car to cross from Johor to Singapore may sound like a commuter’s dream, it’s not quite ready to hit the road. However, there have been talks about it.
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) clarified on 3 Aug that although cross-border ride-hailing was floated during recent discussions, there are currently no plans to fully liberalise such services.
This came after a bilateral meeting on 1 Aug between Singapore’s Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, where various proposals to improve cross-border connectivity were explored.
Among them was the notion of introducing cross-border e-hailing as a more flexible transport option.
In a Facebook post, Datuk Onn Hafiz said the proposed service could reduce congestion, offer commuters more convenience, and create new income streams for local drivers. He added that the concept may also serve as a bridge between the two nations’ public transport systems — a nod to both integration and innovation.
However, Minister Siow was quick to temper expectations. In his own statement, he acknowledged that while ride-hailing was indeed part of the discussion, no decisions had been made.
Instead, he reiterated Singapore’s commitment to safeguarding the livelihoods of current drivers and platform workers, and cracking down on unauthorised cross-border services.
Currently, cross-border travel by taxi is governed under the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme (CBTS), which allows up to 200 licensed taxis from each side to operate between designated pick-up points — Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore and Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru.
Also on the meeting’s agenda: updates on the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which is on track to begin operations in Jan 2027. Officials discussed everything from construction progress to fare structures and synchronising bus schedules.
There are even proposals to start cross-border buses earlier than the current 5am roll-out to help untangle the morning gridlock at the Causeway.
So while the idea of seamless ride-hailing across borders may still be parked at the curb, the conversation is certainly moving. And in the realm of transport diplomacy, that’s a ride worth watching.
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