( 2 ) 
systems had linked up and through communication 
was established from Penang in the North to 
Seremban in Negri Sembilan. 
During 1904 the main line was carried further 
South towards Malacca and Johore State. An 
agreement was also completed with Johore State 
Government for the construction of a line from the 
Federated Malay States frontier to Johore Bahru 
opposite Singapore Island, and the construction of 
this line was started from the Southern end in 
December, 1904, and from the Northern end in 
March, 1905." This line ran through jungle for 
practically the whole length, and when the survey 
started in March, 1904, great difficulty was ex- 
perienced owing to the total lack of communications 
over 100 of the 120 miles the line was to cover. 
Except in the vicinity of Johore Bahru itself roads 
were unknown. The first portion of this line to be 
opened was a section of 16 miles from the Negri 
Sembilan border to Segamat on 1st March, 1908. 
By August, 1908, 70 miles were ready for traffic, 
but were not opened as the Johore Government 
wished to have the whole of the remaining portion 
of the line opened at the same time. This was 
done on 1st July, 1909, and through communication 
was thereby established between Penang in the 
North and Johore Bahru in the South. Following 
close upon this came the completion of a wagon 
ferry across the Straits separating Singapore 
Island from the mainland. This was opened on 
1st January, 1910. 
The Singapore Government had already opened 
a line in January, 1903, running from Woodlands on 
the Northern coast of Singapore Island to Singapore 
