Southeast Asia Railways News (May 2025)

Welcome to the May 2025 edition of the Southeast Asia Railways Newsletter. This is a summary of the latest rail news in Southeast Asia.

News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Cambodia’s railway network to expand to China [Kiripost]

"Chinese Ambassador Wang Wenbin confirmed discussions on a potential railway link between China and Cambodia, while Cambodia carries on with its $10 billion railway development plan involving eight new and existing projects."

This is not the first time that the local media has reported a railway from Cambodia to China, but once again the details are lacking. A railway would involve going through Thailand or Laos. Are they planning a new railway in partnership with these countires, or are they just using current lines?

• Phnom Penh-Poipet railway upgrade project moves forward with major feasibility study [Construction Property]

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung HSR transports 9 mln passengers since launch [Xinhua]

• KAI supports the West Java provincial government's plan to reactivation of the train line [VOI]

"The routes planned to be reactivated include the Cipat-Padalarang, Banjar-Pangandaran, Bandung-Ciwidey, and the route between Garut-Cikajang."

🇱🇦 Laos

• Laos-China Railway celebrates two-year anniversary of cross-border service with 480,000 passengers [The Laotian Times]

• Booming Tourism - China-Laos Railway extended in shuttle-service section for international passengers [The Star]

"In addition to the train service linking the terminal stations of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, and the Laotian capital Vientiane, there is also a shuttle train service section on the China-Laos Railway connecting Xishuangbanna of Yunnan with Luang Prabang in Laos."

• How a railway put Luang Prabang tourism on the right track [Travel Weekly Asia]

Featured newsletter

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• KL-Bangkok direct train to return after years, KTM and Thai rail given three months to prepare [Malay Mail]

• ECRL at 82.45% completion, says Loke [The Star]

"The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which spans four states — Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor — has achieved an overall progress of 82.45% as of April this year, says Anthony Loke."

• How the East Coast Rail Link could boost Malaysia’s economy & connectivity [CNA]

"The East Coast Rail Link has been touted as a game changer for the movement of people and goods in Malaysia, but it comes with certain challenges."

A great interactive article that details the ECRL project.

• Direct Penang-Hat Yai MySawasdee train set to launch as regular service in Q3 [Says]

• First two ETS trains for Johor line undergoing tests [Free Malaysia Today]

"The first two sets of ETS3 trains for the southern line to JB Sentral have been assembled and are undergoing technical tests, says transport minister Loke Siew Fook."

• Call to increase Halogelat-Beaufort train carriages [Daily Express]

🇲🇲 Myanmar

• Myanma Railways marks 148th Anniversary [Global New Light Of Myanmar]

🇵🇭 Philippines

• No funding, no timeline: Bicol, Mindanao rails hang in the balance [The Philippine Star]

• Up to four-year delay seen for North-South rail project [BusinessWorld]

• ADB approves $1.45-B final financing for Malolos-Clark Railway [Philippine Daily Inquirer]

• Railway blitz reaches Bataan [The Philippine Star]

"Bataan could be the next province that would have its own dedicated railway, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) sets out to study the feasibility of such a project."

🇹🇭 Thailand

• High-speed rail project pushed back 7 months [Bangkok Post]

"The Board of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has granted a 201-day extension for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project between Saraburi and Kaeng Khoi, citing structural constraints, including the need to obtain land-use permissions from the Royal Irrigation Department."

• Rail, road developments to be stepped up for 3 northeastern provinces [The Nation]

"The ministry will construct a double-track railway from Ban Phai to Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom, covering a distance of 355 kilometres. The railway is expected to be operational in 2028, serving 3.8 million passengers and transporting 700,000 tonnes of goods per year.

Additionally, three new railway projects are planned:

- A 247-km railway from Udon Thani to Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom

- A 316-km railway from Nong Khai to Bueng Kan and Nakhon Phanom

- A 173-km railway from Mukdahan to Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani"

• Bangkok-Butterworth train service to resume by July [Bangkok Post]

• Free wi-fi soon for passengers on long-haul trains [Bangkok Post]

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Vietnam, China ink seven transport cooperation deals [The Saigon Times]

"Four of the seven agreements relate to railway development. These include a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint committee for Vietnam–China railway cooperation and technical support from China for feasibility studies and planning of several standard-gauge rail lines, including Lao Cai–Hanoi–Haiphong, Dong Dang–Hanoi, and Mong Cai–Ha Long–Haiphong."

• PM orders fast-track construction of Lào Cai - Hà Nội - Hải Phòng railway [Viet Nam News]

"The Minister of Construction was asked to work closely with local authorities to hasten land clearance, compensation, resettlement, site surveys, and the drafting of a feasibility study, which must be completed by June 2025, setting the stage for the project's groundbreaking on December 19, 2025."

• PM requests construction on trans-Vietnam high-speed railway to begin in late 2026, a year ahead of schedule [The Investor]

• Two reunification trains converge in Da Nang [SGGP]

"Two reunification trains today converged in the Central City of Da Nang, strengthening connectivity along the S-shaped country - Vietnam."

• Building and expanding transport infrastructure links in economic development cooperation [Da Nang Today]

"Regarding railways, a high-speed railway and a national regular railway will be built along the same corridor, running parallel to the expressway to the east. Additionally, the Da Nang - Kon Tum railway will be planned to connect with the North-South national railway at the new Da Nang Station after 2030."

• Thu Thiem – Long Thanh and Bien Hoa – Vung Tau railways expected to start construction before 2030 [Dong Nai Online]

• Tracking the past on Vietnam's 'Reunification Express' ($) [Nikkei Asia]

"North-south rail trip throws fresh light on the 1954-75 war."