For many years, Cambodia had no railways, except for the famous draisine railway Bamboo Train. In recent years railway network has been rehabilitated and passenger traveling by train in Cambodia is possible and popular. Railway network is small – two railway lines from Phnom Penh with total length of more than 600 kilometers build to 1000 mm gauge.
Last updated: 17.01.2024
The first railway line in Cambodia was narrow gauge (600 mm) railway from Phnom Krom to Siem Reap built by the French in the 1890s.
Most sources consider the opening of the railway line from Phnom Penh to Paoy Pet (Poipet) as the beginning of Cambodia’s railway history. The line from Phnom Penh to the border with Thailand was constructed between 1930 and 1940 in stages (388 km). The connection with Thailand was completed by Royal State Railways in 1942.
In 1932 the railway station in Phnom Penh was inaugurated.
On 17 December 1946 railway connection between Cambodia and Thailand was ceased due to political reasons.
Between 1960 and 1969 the second railway line from Phnom Penh to the port of Sihanoukville was constructed (254 km) with assistance from France, West Germany and China.
During the civil war almost the entire railway network was damaged. After war, freight and passenger trains were attacked by guerillas.
At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries tracks, rolling stock and railway infrastructure were in very poor state.
All lines were closed in 2009. Following year the Australian company Toll Holdings awarded the concession to rehabilitate and operate the railways for 30 years. The first opened section was from Phnom Penh to Touk Meas on the southern line at the end of 2010. Work on the reconstruction of railway lines progressed slowly.
In 2016 passenger train services were reinstated.
In January 2023 Cambodian government announced plans to build three high-speed rail lines Phnom Penh to the country’s borders.
Train travel in Cambodia – domestic trains
Currently, train travel in Cambodia is possible on two routes:
Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville
Phnom Penh – Battambang
Passenger service from Battambang to Poipet is currently suspended.
There are also weekend trains from Phnom Penh to Toul Leab in the suburbs of the capital (about 20 km).
Trains from Phnom Penh to International Airport in Phnom Penh (8 km) were ceased due to problems with traffic – very slow ride and accidents. In rush hours trains covered the route in over an hour.
There are no trains to Siem Reap.
Line from Phnom Penh to Poipet is going to be upgrade in the nearest future for a speed of 160km per hour.
Useful websites:
Royal Railway – official fanpage (up-to-date information)
Easybook – online shop and schedule recommended by Royal Railway
Railway map of Cambodia (Wikipedia)
Cambodian trains and railways – discussion groups on Facebook
Tickets are very cheap. It doesn’t matter what seats you select when booking as you can sit anywhere. Don’t need to print your ticket or anything, just show them on your phone when you board.
Train timetables are not reliable – trains are often delayed over 2 hours and stop for no reason.
Sometimes passengers are transferred to buses in the middle of the route without any information.
Train from Phnom Penh to Kampot has a motorcycle carriage.
Rolling stock of Royal Railways:
Royal Railway has an interesting rolling stock:
– old passenger carriages from Germany (Waggonfabrik Uerdingen AZAFF & BZAFF)
– old diesel munltiple units from Germany (Waggonfabrik Uerdingen ZZ800)
– ex-Thai Hitachi RDN diesel multiple unit
– newly built Mexican diesel multiple unit AS1000 series
– King’s coach
Some of the trains are hauled by a diesel locomotive with passenger carriages. Others are comprised of diesel multiple units.
Train travel in Cambodia – international trains
There are no international passenger trains in Cambodia. On 22 April 2019 cross-border rail service between Poipet and Aranyaprathet was resumed but only for freight trains. There were plans to launch a cross-border train or overnight train from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, but due to COViD-19 pandemic were abandoned. Currently, trains from Phnom Penh terminates at Battambang station.
There is a proposed high-speed line from Phnom Penh to Bavet on the border with Vietnam. In 2018 transport ministers of Cambodia and Vietnam have agreed to build a railway between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. A train could potentially reduce the journey time between the capitals to under 2 hours. Ultimately the new high-speed railway will link Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The distance between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City is only about 250 km.
Cambodia has no railway link with Laos.
See also:
