Vientiane-Kunming passenger train service begins

Welcome to the second edition of the Southeast Asia railways news round-up.

This month I took the following trips:

Sai Gon - Phan Thiet

Binh Thuan - Da Nang

Bangkok - Hua Hin

Even though Bangkok has a shiny new mega station (see the article in the links below), it is still possible to get a train to Hua Hin from the old Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong). There are also trains from Thonburi Station on the other side of the river, giving you three departure options from Bangkok.

I got the train from the classic old station, and here is a video of the national anthem being played at the old station at 8 am.

News

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train to be inaugurated in August, Luhut says

“We hope that the President will inaugurate it on August 18,”.

I don’t know if this is realistic, but I am keeping my calendar clear in case it happens.

🇱🇦 Laos

• Laos-China Railway launches crossborder passenger service

There is a daily service in each direction between Kunming and Vientiane.

• Laos-Vietnam railway construction could begin by year end: developer

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Johor Bahru to Singapore by train: KTM Shuttle Tebrau

I took this train last year and I finally got around to writing about it. Not that there was much to write about, as this 5 -minute train ride is possibly the shortest international train ride in the world.

• Anthony Loke: ECRL works 42pc complete, on track for 2027 launch

The East Coast Rail Link is the longest new rail line project that is under construction in Southeast Asia. The project includes a 16.39km tunnel through the Titiwangsa Range.

• Malaysia's Anwar meets Xi, likely to seek China help for rail link

“Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met President Xi Jinping on Friday during his first trip to China as Malaysia's leader, as his delegation hopes to tie up several projects, likely including assistance for a high-speed railway linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.”

• Zafrul: Malaysia open to reviving high-speed rail project to Singapore

• The extremely ambitious railway plan found in Rancangan Fizikal Negara Ke-4 (published in 2021)

I found this map on Reddit. What is more amazing is that it is from an official government website, and not by some railfan that has made a fantasy map. Most of it makes sense, but the Penang to Kota Bharu line would require crossing a gigantic mountain range. It is obviously just a dream, but I’m glad to see there are dreamers doodling on maps in the government.

🇵🇭 Philippines

• 30,000 to be affected by suspension of PNR operations

The current commuter railway that serves Manila will be closed for 5 years while the North-South Commute Railway is built. This line will form part of a railway that will eventually connect Northern and Southern Luzon.

• Panay Railways revival needs masterplan covering other sectors

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal: A guide to Bangkok main train station (AKA Bang Sue Grand Station)

Here is my guide to the largest train station in Southeast Asia.

• Thailand's China-built high-speed rail, on track but delayed

• Thai Northeast braces for boom as China-Laos passenger railway opens

• Take a Thai history trip on a cute Japanese train

Tickets for this excursion train can be bought at https://www.dticket.railway.co.th

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Da Nang to Hue by train via the Hai Van Pass

I rode this segment again last year, and here is my update on the most scenic section of the North-South railway.

• Vietnamese Gov’t aims to approve North-South express railway project by 2025

• Việt Nam's 3,000km flower-path project takes root, but safety concerns loom

“As Việt Nam aims to build the longest flower path of its kind in the country, stretching over 3,000km along the north-south railway line, many experts and residents have applauded the plan as a potential tourist draw, though concerns over railway safety have also been raised.”

• Switzerland’s Stadler seeks to join restoration of Vietnam cog railway

“Stadler Rail, a leading Swiss manufacturer of railway rolling stock, has shown interest in joining Vietnam’s efforts to restore the Thap Cham-Dalat railroad, the only cog railway in the nation built before 1975.”

Read more about the proposed Da Lat–Thap Cham railway restoration.