News: January 2024

100 days of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway, Bangkok-Vientiane train by April, bidders for the KL-Singapore HSR, HCMC-Can Tho Railway

James Clark
January 31, 2024

Welcome to the first edition of Southeast Asia Railway news for 2024. I’ve moved the newsletter to a new platform, but it should be business as usual in your inbox.

I haven’t got any train trips planned next month (no trains where I am going) but I have mapped out a plan for 2024 that involves some new train trips. Some of them are in this month’s newsletter.

Here is a summary of news and stories of rail travel in Southeast Asia over the last month.

“Trial runs to start next month on final link to main station in Lao capital, says SRT.”

• Laos-China Railway boosts daily trips in preparation of tourism surge

• China-Laos Railway witnesses Spring Festival travel rush

• The Prime Minister talked about the cooperation plan to build highways and railways connecting Vietnam - Laos

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Seven consortia comprising 31 firms submit RFI proposal for KL-Singapore HSR project

"Seven local and international consortia, comprising 31 firms have submitted Request for Information (RFI) concept proposals for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project."

• KL-Bangkok line possible, says MyHSR Corp head

“The chairman of MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd, Datuk Seri Fauzi Abdul Rahman, said that there may be a possibility that the bullet train will be extended to Malaysia’s northern sector, with a final stop at Padang Besar in Perlis, but the immediate priority is on the KL-Singapore HSR to be developed.”

• ECRL's first track laying works between Kuantan-Dungun achieves 41 pct progress

• Fast-tracking RM170mil rail station for Seremban

• New rail packages launched in conjunction with Visit Perak Year 2024

• Historian Yusuf Liu's new book highlights the nation’s past railway culture, encourages ‘completion of railway system’

• Remembering our railway men

“On June 1, 1885, the railway age dawned on Malaya. It was a momentous occasion when the country’s first train embarked on an 8-mile (12.8km) journey from Taiping to Port Weld.”

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Solon proposes Bicol Express modernization using Maharlika funds

• Clark-Calamba Railway Project starts rolling

• US willing to invest in Mindanao Railway Project: envoy

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Bukit Timah Railway Station: honouring Singapore's railway heritage.

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Beijing says construction of multibillion-dollar China-Thailand rail must be sped up

• Govt mulls second railway connection with Malaysia

• Full steam ahead for old time Japan train in Thailand (video)

“A Japanese steam train that used to run on the Thai-Burma 'Death Railway' plies the rails in Thailand today thanks to the loving care of Thai mechanics.”

• Thailand’s Death Railway is a beautiful line with a dark history

• Enjoy day trips around Bangkok with SRT

• Songkran break: Reserve your luxe CNR train tickets now

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• USD9.98 billion proposed for HCM City-Can Tho railway route

"Under the group’s proposal sent to the government, the railway route would be 174 kilometres long and have 12 stations, running HCM City, Can Tho City and the provinces of Binh Duong, Long An, Tien Giang and Vinh Long. It will transport both passengers and goods."

• Vietnam - China railway will connect tracks from 2025

"Vietnam Railway Administration (Ministry of Transport) said it is working with the China National Railway Administration to agree on a point to connect 1.435 mm standard gauge railway tracks between the two sides at Lao Cai, deployed from 2025."

• Vietravel wants to launch five-star tourist train on North-South line

• More trains to serve Tet travel demand

• Tie the knot in style: Vietnam's enchanting train transforms into wedding venue

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