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Cambodia Considering High-Speed Railway Lines to Thailand


snoop1130

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BANGKOK (NNT) - Cambodia is considering upgrading its railway transportation to increase accessibility and trade with Thailand and other neighboring countries.

 

Sun Chantol, Minister of Public Works and Transport, stated that the Cambodian government is looking to upgrade its two train routes into high-speed railway lines. The plan was proposed by Prime Minister Hun Sen as part of a plan to enhance trade and transportation with neighboring countries.

 

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The minister stated that a feasibility study would be conducted on the high-speed railway plan.

 

Cambodia currently has two railway lines totaling 612 kilometers. The first route connects Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, with the coastal city of Sihanoukville. The second route connects the capital city with the town of Poipet, which borders Thailand’s Sa Kaew Province.

 

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13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Sun Chantol, Minister of Public Works and Transport, stated that the Cambodian government is looking to upgrade its two train routes into high-speed railway lines. The plan was proposed by Prime Minister Hun Sen as part of a plan to enhance trade and transportation with neighboring countries.

Been talking to China again?

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14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The second route connects the capital city with the town of Poipet, which borders Thailand’s Sa Kaew Province.

So complete a rail-link between Aranyaprathet and the Poi Pet terminus for all this "trade"?

 

FWIW, I think there is one, single daily SRT train between Bangkok and Aranyaprathet.

 

It looks like there's a single-track spur on the thai side, from the Aranyaprathet train station right up to the border.

 

 

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6 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

So complete a rail-link between Aranyaprathet and the Poi Pet terminus

A 1 metre gauge line from Bangkok to Phnom Penh already exists but no through services as yet (Covid-19). The final link between Aranyaprathet (Thailand) and Poi Pet (Cambodia) was officially opened on April 22 2019 by both PMs. 

 

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Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) waves beside Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha as they ride a train during a ceremony inaugurating the railway line between Cambodia and Thailand on April 22, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

 

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Above photo shows a SRT multiple unit alongside a Cambodian railcar at Poi Pet.

The eventual plan is a high speed line between Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh, Battambang, Poi Pet and across the border to Bangkok. I can imagine "The Casino Express" for punters in Thailand.

 
Edited by Burma Bill
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20 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

A 1 metre gauge line from Bangkok to Phnom Penh already exists but no through services as yet (Covid-19). The final link between Aranyaprathet (Thailand) and Poi Pet (Cambodia) was officially opened on April 22 2019 by both PMs. 

 

I think that was the ground-breaking ceremony?

 

The first train ran October 18, 2021.

 

First Cross-Border Train From Thailand To Cambodia On 18 October 2021. The first international cross-border cargo train from Thailand to Cambodia ran on 18 October 2021 with a delivery of used rails, concrete sleepers, and fastenings from the State Railway of Thailand to Royal Railway Cambodia.

 

https://railtravelstation.com/first-international-train-thailand-cambodia/

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4 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I think that was the ground-breaking ceremony?

 

The first train ran October 18, 2021.

Thank you very much, I should have stated "no through passenger services". 

I believe SRT may have also donated some rolling stock.

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On 4/30/2022 at 1:23 AM, asiacurious said:

Why must it always be China, China, China?

 

Why can't it simply be that Cambodia sees a high speed rail link from Thailand as a smart, sound, investment?  How many millions of tourists (pre-Covid) came to Thailand and skipped going to a place like Siem Reap and/or Phnom Penh because airports are always a hassle and busses are slow and pretty awful.  1.5 hours to Siem Reap by train?  Lots of people would go for that.

Because China now owns Cambodia lock, stock and barrel. 

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On 4/30/2022 at 1:23 AM, asiacurious said:

Why must it always be China, China, China?

2nd highest GDP in the world, clearly showing a massive investment in Cambodia.  

 

Why must is always be America, a country with a GDP of like 25 trillion whereas China is around 14??

 

Well, it's not going to be Papua-New Guinea or The Isle of WaterButterflies all the time?

 

The big dogs got their hands in EVERYTHING..........

 

Nobody wants to take over 73.29 percent of the world!!!    100.00 or nothing.   

 

If Cambodia tries to do this alone and it fails........disastrous, unless China buys it.    It's always China.  

 

 

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It will be 'High Speed' until it reaches the Thai Border and then stop !   Still enough to dump all their goods at the Border and undercut Thai prices; same as the Chinese are already doing.

 

No point in Thai Farmers and Producers complaining when their own Government is more interested in the Personal Wealth gained from buying F35's, Sub's without Engines and People Trafficking.

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1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Because China now owns Cambodia lock, stock and barrel. 

With respect, not entirely true (less than 50%). For reference 29/11/2021:-

 

China was the largest source of registered FDI with $17.3 billion or 44.2 percent of the total registered investment capital among countries .............................. South Korea and Vietnam were placed second and third with registered capital of $4.1 billion and $$2.5 billion, respectively.....................................Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, the UK, Canada, and the U.S. were also among the top investment countries in Cambodia.

The licensed FDI .......... the areas of finance, manufacturing, real estate, hotel and restaurant, agriculture, electricity, and construction.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50978661/fdi-inflows-into-cambodia-up-9-6-percent-to-39-billion-in-first-semester/

 

 

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On 4/29/2022 at 5:32 PM, snoop1130 said:

upgrade its two train routes into high-speed railway lines.

IMO, "high speed railway" should read "faster" railway. Forget the Chinese High Speed standard gauge lines, like the new one into Vientiane, the Cambodian current need is for the upgrade of existing  one meter gauge tracks and infrastructure (bridges etc.) so that faster freight and passenger trains can link with the SRT at Poi Pet. Also on the "wish list" is a new line from Poi Pet eastwards to Siem Reap and the border with Vietnam where there is also a one meter gauge system.

Quotes:

 "find ways to upgrade the existing railway to a high-speed system"

"the current railway infrastructure only allows for speeds of “only 20 or 30km/h”

"looking for a partner to build a high-speed railway system on the existing railway line"

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/pm-urges-ministry-upgrade-natl-railways

 

"expanding railway connections to other potential provinces to reduce traffic accidents and increase transportation capacity"

"to connect the existing railway in Poipet to Siem Reap to Kampong Thom and to Phnom Penh........a planned railway connection from Phnom Penh to Bavet, Cambodia-Vietnam border.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50990272/cambodia-to-examine-possibility-of-developing-and-expanding-existing-railways-into-high-speed-railways/

 

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