Cambodia Considering High-Speed Railway Lines to Thailand

[snoop1130]

 

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.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-29

 

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[mokwit]

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Cambodia is considering upgrading its railway transportation to increase accessibility and trade with Thailand and other neighboring countries.

Here, let me fix that:

 

China is coercing Cambodia into upgrading its railway transportation to increase Chinese  accessibility and trade with Thailand and other neighboring countries.

 

Better?

[asiacurious]

7 hours ago, mokwit said:

China is coercing Cambodia into upgrading its railway transportation to increase Chinese  accessibility and trade with Thailand and other neighboring countries.

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.

[hotchilli]

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?

[mtls2005]

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.

 

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

There is no point in Cambodia having a 'high speed' rail system until the Thai high-speed rail system is operational. If they have not already surveyed and planned the route they're coming late to the party.

[mikebell]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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

There will be seventeen sub-committees with nine or more members, all on free lunches and travel expenses to discuss this latest Chinese Colonialist scheme from plans drawn up by the minister's son on the back of an envelope (brown).

[asiacurious]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Been talking to China again?

yawn

 

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

to discuss this latest Chinese Colonialist scheme

more yawn

 

again...

 

9 hours ago, asiacurious said:

Why must it always be China, China, China?

Is China likely to benefit?  Sure.  But so what?  You know who else will really benefit?  Cambodia.

 

17 hours ago, mokwit said:

China is coercing Cambodia into upgrading its railway transportation to increase Chinese  accessibility and trade with Thailand and other neighboring countries.

Let me reiterate my yawn to this and add a question....  How exactly does high speed rail increase trade?  High speed rail is for passengers (with almost no freight trains, anywhere in the world).

 

[hotchilli]

14 minutes ago, asiacurious said:

yawn

 

more yawn

 

again...

 

Is China likely to benefit?  Sure.  But so what?  You know who else will really benefit?  Cambodia.

 

Let me reiterate my yawn to this and add a question....  How exactly does high speed rail increase trade?  High speed rail is for passengers (with almost no freight trains, anywhere in the world).

 

YAWN

[Burma Bill]

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. 

 

 

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

 

 

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 April 30, 2022 by Burma Bill
additional information

[mtls2005]

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/

[Burma Bill]

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.

[Lemsta69]

13 hours ago, 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 has it's hooks into the Bodja big time. plus I very much doubt that they could find this on this own so I very much suspect it's party of China's Belt and Road project. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

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. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 4/30/2022 at 11:31 AM, asiacurious said:

Is China likely to benefit?  Sure.  But so what?  You know who else will really benefit?  Cambodia.

Arguable considering other countries particularly in Africa that are now indebted to China for similar infrastructure, and possibly for a very long time considering the amounts and interest payable. 

 

China is exercising debt trap diplomacy as part of its Belt and Road initiative in an attempt to become a global superpower. 

 

 

[ballpoint]

Be good to see Vietnam join in too.  Bangkok - Phnom Penh - Saigon would be a nice trip.

[Iamfalang]

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.  

 

 

[trainman34014]

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.

[Burma Bill]

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/

 

 

[Burma Bill]

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/