Rail transport in Cambodia: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=MayFebruary 20232024}}

[[Cambodia]] has {{convert|612|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} of {{RailGauge|1000mm}} [[Metre gauge railway|metre gauge]] rail network, consisting of two lines: one from the capital, [[Phnom Penh]], to [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]], and another from Phnom Penh to [[Poipet]], on the [[Cambodia–Thailand border|Thai border]]. The lines were originally constructed during the time when the country was part of [[French Indochina]], but due to neglect and damage from [[Cambodian Civil War|civil war]] during the latter half of the 20th century, the railways were in a dilapidated state, and all services had been suspended by 2009. Through rehabilitation efforts by the Governmentgovernment of Cambodia, with funding from the [[Asian Development Bank]], Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the Australian company [[Toll Group|Toll Holdings]], freight and limited passenger service returned between [[Phnom Penh]] and [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]] by 2016,<ref>{{cite web |title=Option 1: Train |url=https://www.geckoroutes.com/cambodia/phnom-penh-intl-airport/#Option_1_Train |publisher=Gecko Routes |access-date=27 April 2019-04-27}}</ref> and passenger service between Phnom Penh and [[Poipet]] was fully restored in 2019.<ref name="straitstimes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/cambodia-and-thailand-reconnected-by-rail-after-45-years|title=Cambodia and Thailand reconnected by rail after 45 years|date=22 April 2019|website=The Straits Times}}</ref>

In 1955 [[Australia]] donated rolling stock, described as "railway wagons of various types", worth at the time AUS£441,000 and "needed for new rail links."<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75435444?searchTerm=cambodia%20railway&searchLimits=#blob] The Central Queensland Herald, Rolling Stock: Australian Gift to Cambodia, 11 August 2012</ref> Assistance from [[France]], [[West Germany]], and the [[United Kingdom]] between 1960 and 1969 supported the construction of the second line, which runs from Phnom Penh to [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]] on the southern coast to cut down the reliance on [[Saigon]] Port of [[Vietnam]] and [[Khlong Toei]] Port of Thailand. In 1960, [[Australia]] provided four third-class passenger carriages under the [[Colombo Plan]].<ref>[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], March, 1960 pp39-40</ref> Rail service ceased during the war but resumed in the early 1980s. [[Guerrilla]] activities, however, continued to disrupt service.

In June 2009, Australian business [[Toll Group|Toll Holdings]] was awarded the contract to begin reconstruction of Cambodia's rail network and to operate it once complete.<ref name="railwaygazette1">[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//cambodian-rail-concession-signed.html Cambodian rail concession signed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323011504/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/cambodian-rail-concession-signed.html |date=23 March 2010 }} [[Railway Gazette International]], 12 June 2009</ref> It is envisioned that this line would reopen by mid-2013, together with the track further west to the Thai border, allowing for direct rail services into Cambodia from [[Bangkok]] for the first time in over 60 years.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/transport-boost-for-south-east-asian-tourism-1843307.html | title=Transport boost for South East Asian tourism | work=[[The Independent]] | date=17 December 2009 | location=London}}</ref> The Australian government and the [[Asian Development Bank]] was said to spend $26 million to help rebuild Cambodia's rail system, the majority of the Northern and Southern lines in Cambodia.<ref name="Rann">{{cite news |last=Rann |first=Reuy |title=China may fund Cambodia-Vietnam rail |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012061356758/Business/china-to-fund-cambodia-rail.html |access-date=2813 JulyAugust 2023 2012|newspaper=[[The Phnom Penh Post]] |lang=en |date=13 June 2012 |archive-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615214400/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012061356758/Business/china-to-fund-cambodia-rail.html}}</ref> The project, if all up, would cost $143 million, with the disruption exposed in a report by the international consortium funding the $143 million project – Australia's international aid agency AusAID and the [[Asian Development Bank]]. 641 kilometers of track will be rehabilitated with the aim of integrating Cambodia with the regional network such as Vietnam and Thailand; however, about 1,400 families who are living in shanty towns, have been affected and 1050 families have had to move.<ref>{{cite news|last=Philip Heijmans|first=and Tom Hyland|title=Planning failure derails aid project|url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/planning-failures-derail-aid-project-20120616-20glr.html#ixzz1y1Q575Yx|access-date=18 June 2012|newspaper=[[The Age]]}}</ref> The report which was prepared by [[AusAID]] and [[Asian Development Bank]] experts in April 2012 pointed out poor construction and botched surveys leading to evictions of families, infighting between contractors, delays and cost overruns.

|url=http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201203/3462770.htm |title=Toll postpones criticised Cambodia rail project |publisher=[[ABC Australia (Southeast Asian TV channel)|ABC Asia Pacific]] |date=24 March 2012 |access-date=28 July 2022 |author=Daniel, Zoe |author-link=Zoe Daniel |archive-url=https://archive.phtoday/npmXI20130116030221/http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201203/3462770.htm?desktop |archive-date=16 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The line from Phnom Penh to the [[deep water port]] at [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]] was also scheduled to be reopened in 2011.<ref name=rgi20101022 /> However, the company came back in late July and said it will start transporting construction materials needed to build the southern line from 1 August. Toll Holdings sold its 55% stake in 2014 to Royal Group, with the company renamed Royal Railway Cambodia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://capitalcambodia.com/royal-railway-on-track-to-modernisation/|title=Royal Railway on track to modernisation|last=Amarthalingam|first=Sangeetha|date=2019-05-16 May 2019|website=Capital Cambodia|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-19 May 2019}}</ref><ref>Toll Group pulls out of Cambodia ''International Railway Journal'' February 2015 page 6</ref>

In June 2012, Cambodia discussed with China on funding for a 250-kilometre stretch of rail line between Cambodia and Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news|lastname="Rann|first=Reuy|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012061356758/Business/china-to-fund-cambodia-rail.html|access-date=18 June 2012|newspaper=The Phnom Penh" Post}}</ref> Var Sim Sorya, director general of Ministry of Public Works and Transportation said: "China doesn’t have so many conditions, but Chinese technicians are still well-studied," he said yesterday at a workshop on infrastructure, although he did not specify which conditions were undesirable.<ref name="Rann"/> In 2013, [[China Railway Group Limited|China Railway Group]] planned to build a {{Convert|405|km|mi|abbr=on}} north–south railway across Cambodia, which would support planned expansion of the steel industry in Cambodia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/railway-planned-to-link-steel-plant-and-port.html|access-date=7 January 2013|title=Railway planned to link steel plant and port|work=[[Railway Gazette International]]}}</ref>

The line between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville opened to travellers on 9 April 2016, after having been suspended for 14 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://royal-railway.com/?page=detail&article=82&lg=en|title=Royal Railways (Cambodia)|website=royal-railway.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://investvine.com/passenger-trains-revived-cambodia-14-year-hiatus/|title=Passenger trains revived in Cambodia after 14-year-hiatus {{!}} Investvine|last=Maierbrugger|first=Arno|website=Investvine|date=28 March 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=1 April 2016-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/jun/05/trains-phnom-penh-sihanoukville-kampot|title=Cambodia revives train service between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville|author=Peter Ford|date=5 June 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The line between the Thai border at Poipet and Battambang was under reconstruction as of 2017, with the remainder of the line between Battambang and Phnom Penh planned to be reconstructed at a cost of $150 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-property/poipet-railway-works-face-setbacks|title=Poipet railway works face setbacks

It was announced in March 2018 that the line from [[Poipet]] to [[Sisophon]] would begin operations on 4 April 2018.<ref>{{Citecite web |title=Register |url=https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTRRCambodia%2Fposts%2F1440412056081642 |titlevia=Log[[Facebook]] into|access-date=13 August 2023 Facebook|vialanguage=Facebooken |url-access=limited}}</ref> Subsequently, operations were further extended to [[Battambang]] on 29 April, with plans to open the line to [[Pursat]] on 29 May. It was also reported that new railway routes were being studied by private companies.<ref name="Kimsay">{{cite news|last=Kimsay|first=Hor|title=Service opens on restored rails connecting Battambang, Banteay Meanchey |url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/service-opens-restored-rails-connecting-battambang-banteay-meanchey|access-date=30 April 2018|newspaper=The Phnom Penh Post|date=30 April 2018}}</ref> In 2020, transport undersecretary of state Ly Borin announced a feasibility study of the [[Ho Chi Minh City–Phnom Penh railway|railway]] from Phnom Penh to [[Bavet]] at the Vietnamese border, with an eventual plan to connect to the Vietnamese railway network at [[Saigon station|Ho Chi Minh City]].<ref name="Thou Vireak">{{cite web|url= https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/phnom-penh-hcmc-rail-studied|title= Phnom Penh to HCMC rail studied|author=Thou Vireak|work=The Phnom Penh Post|date=5 October 2020-10-05|access-date=6 September 2021-09-06}}</ref>

==LocomotivesRolling stocks==

[[CSR Corporation Limited|CSR Qishuyan Locomotive Company]] of China<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.qscn.cn/english/about.asp |title=CSR Qishuyan Locomotive Co., LTD.--Locomotive,Diesel Engine,Main Locomotive Components,Forging and Casting Parts,Locomotive Repair,jiangsu,changzhou，Qishuyan，CSR…… |access-date=25 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328045411/http://www.qscn.cn/english/about.asp |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> has supplied [[diesel-electric locomotive]]s of type CKD6D to Cambodia Royal Railway. These are 880&nbsp;kW [[Bo-Bo]] locomotives with [[Caterpillar Inc|Caterpillar]] CAT3508B [[diesel engines]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://biz.everychina.com/qscn-r/z25ac062-ckd6d_meter_gauge_diesel_locomotive.html|title=Quality CKD6D Meter Gauge Diesel Locomotive for sale from product (35299230) of reliable China CKD6D Meter Gauge Diesel Locomotive supplier|website=biz.everychina.com}}</ref> Ten second hand Indian YDM4 locomotives are also present in the fleet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IRCON YDM4 6000 Series Locomotive • Royal Railway Cambodia • RailTravel Station |url=https://railtravelstation.com/royal-railway-cambodia/rolling-stock/ircon-ydm4-6000-series/ |access-date=2023-04-30 April 2023 |website=RailTravel Station |language=en-GB}}</ref>

AsMost of 2023recently, Cambodian Railways alsopurchased operate11 a fleetunits of ex-[[StateKiHa Railway of Thailand|Thai Railways183]] [[DieselDMUs multiplefrom unit|DMU]] trainsets and will purchasing fleets of ex-[[Japan Railways]] and [[PT INKA]] rolling stocks.<ref>{{CitationCite web|title=IsRoyal ThisRailway TheCambodia World'sbuys WORST11 Train?high-speed Cambodianlocomotives Railwaysfrom / Phnom Penh to BattambangJapan |url=https://www.youtubekhmertimeskh.com/watch?v501474474/royal-railway-cambodia-buys-11-high-speed-locomotives-from-japan/ |publisher=QIWPXTEzhDIKhmer Times |access-date=2023-04-016 May 2024 |languagedate=en18 April 2024}}</ref>

* November, 2008 – agreement for Vietnam – Cambodia link<ref>[http://www.gokunming.com/en/blog/item/734/cambodiavietnam_agreement_brings_transasian_railway_closer Cambodia-Vietnam agreement brings Trans-Asian railway closer] GoKunming, 10 November 2008</ref>

=== 2009 ===

=== 2010 ===

=== 2012 ===

=== 2014 ===

=== 2015 ===

* 29 May – (scheduled) Extension of service from Battambang to Pursat

==Bamboo Railway=2023===

The '''"[[Norry|Bamboo railway]]'''", as it is known to overseas visitors, "norry" or "lorries" as it is known to locals, was a popular form of transport in the Northwesternnorthwestern area of the country, near [[Battambang]]. The trains consist of a [[bamboo]]-covered platform and two detached [[axle]]s with wheels. They run on regular tracks and are powered with scavenged engines, such as [[Briggs & Stratton]] type [[air-cooled]] [[Internal combustion engine|gasoline engine]]s adapted from portable [[electricity generator]]s, or from water pumps<ref name=rgi20101022 /> Power is transmitted by belt and [[pulley]]. Trains can reach up to 40&nbsp;km/h. When meeting traffic in the opposite direction, passengers of the cart with fewer passengers are expected to lift the platform, engine, and axles of their cart off the tracks to let the other cart pass.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5110236.stm | publisher=[[BBC News]] | first=Guy | last=De Launey | title=Cambodians ride 'bamboo railway' | date=4 July 2006}}</ref>