On the Cambodian side of the border, work is ongoing on restoring the line from Phnom Penh to Poipet. Trains last ran on the Phnom Penh to Battambang stretch of this route in 2008 and on the last leg to Poipet in 1946.
On the Thai side of the border there are still two daily trains in each direction between Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station and Aranyaprathet. The last six kilometre section of the line to the actual border crossing at Khlong Luek is currently being refurbished by rail authorities in Thailand.
Commenting on the symbolic linking of the two nations’ rail systems, Cambodian public works minister Sun Chanthol noted that train services should be inaugurated by early 2017. He added that Thailand had paid the US$1 million needed to rebuild a river bridge and restore the connection.
He finished off by expressing the hope that the prime-ministers of Thailand and Cambodia would take the maiden train trip together. Once train services do start running on the route, 12GO ASIA expects to add it to its ticket options portfolio.
Cambodia and Thailand railway systems reconnected
News in Asia
The reconnection of Thailand and Cambodia’s rail systems was marked by an official ceremony recently. Although the tracks between the two countries have been joined at the border crossing of Aranyaprathet-Poipet, officials say it will be a little while before public passenger trains are launched.