Southeast Asia Railways News (October 2025)

Malaysia's vision to encircle Borneo by rail, Laos planning railways to Vietnam and Savannakhet and Champasack, South Long Haul Rail Project in the Philippines, Thailand high-speed rail delays, proposed line from HCMC to Vietnam-Cambodia border

Author

James Clark
October 03, 2025

The Southeast Asia Railways Newsletter is a summary of rail news in Southeast Asia, edited by James Clark from Future Southeast Asia and Nomadic Notes.

Greetings from Kuala Lumpur! I arrived here by train from Butterworth, which is the best way to between Penang and KL.

Before Penang, I got the train from Hat Yai (Thailand) to Padang Besar (Malaysia), and then a train from Padang Besar to Butterworth. The border crossing by train is a more pleasant experience than crossing the border by road (here is my previous article about the border crossing). I have done this trip before by minivan, which I do not recommend. Minivans in Thailand pack as many seats inside as possible, so if you are tall you will be squished into the seat. Minivan drivers also have a repuation for driving like maniacs, so get the train instead!

While the border crossing is smooth, Padang Besar station could use some improvements. The station is cramped and there are too many stairs.

I’m going back to Vietnam this month, and I will be visiting some places I haven’t been to by rail. I’m putting together a guide for Vietnam train travel, so look out for that.

James at Butterworth Station

News

🇧🇳 Brunei

🇮🇩 Indonesia

"State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir on Tuesday said the government is considering renegotiating the debt of the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail project, better known as Whoosh, which has become a financial burden for state railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI)."

"According to DJKA’s Director of Rail Traffic and Transport Arif Anwar, the initial development will cover a 27-kilometer double-track line stretching from Gubeng Station to Sidoarjo Station, passing through Wonokromo and Waru, and will also include the construction of a new depot in Sidotopo."

🇱🇦 Laos

"Feasibility studies and design work are currently underway for the Vientiane–Thakhek–Naphao line connecting to Vietnam’s Vung Ang port, the Kaisone Phomvihane City–Dansavanh route in Savannakhet province, and the Vientiane–Champasack Railway Project."

🇲🇾 Malaysia

"Malaysia's proposed high-speed rail (HSR) project connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore remains remains under consideration, even as two major projects, the Gemas–Johor Bahru electrified double tracking and the Johor Bahru–Singapore rapid transit system, edge closer to completion."

• ECRL project hits 87% completion, says Loke [The Malaysian Reserve]

"The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project spanning four states — Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor — has recorded 87 per cent overall progress as of August."

"For decades now, rail travel has been the unglamorous cousin to planes and cars in Malaysia. But the trains, they are a-changin’. The Straits Times travels more than 1,500km over 15 days across jungles, plantations and villages to chronicle the role of the railway in local communities."

🇵🇭 Philippines

"...the 577-kilometer and 33-station rail connection from Metro Manila to Batangas and Bicol".

"The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday began the demolition of Philippine National Railways (PNR) stations from Santa Mesa, Manila to Cabuyao, Laguna as part of the construction of the southern part of the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR)."

"The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the proposed P197 billion budget for the agency for 2026 does not include allocations for the Mindanao Railway Project."

🇹🇭 Thailand

"Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has rejected a proposed amendment to the contract for the high-speed rail project linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports. The amendment sought to change the state’s co-investment payment method to a “pay-as-you-build” scheme, which Phiphat said contradicted the original contract terms."

"Thailand’s China-linked high-speed rail faces stalled contracts and heritage concerns. New minister Phiphat must resolve delays to push Phase 2 forward."

"Other pending projects from the previous government, including Phase 2 of the southern double-track rail, are being compiled for Cabinet consideration. These comprise:

  1. Chumphon-Surat Thani, 168 km, 30.423 billion baht

  2. Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Songkhla, 321 km, 66.271 billion baht

  3. Hat Yai-Padang Besar, 45 km, 7.773 billion baht"

🇻🇳 Vietnam

"Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday asked the Ministry of Construction to develop a feasibility study for starting the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project on December 19."

"The completed standards must be publicly announced, applied for implementation, as well as calling for investment in many forms: public investment capital, public-private partnership (PPP) and other forms of investment using legal capital sources. The deadline is October 2025 to complete the announcement of standards and regulations, as a basis for implementing the next steps of the project."

One of the unknowns of the proposed high-speed railway is where the rail technology will come from. Five countries have proposed taking part: Japan, China, South Korea, France, Spain.

"The HCM City - Can Tho line is expected to serve as a crucial link for transporting goods and agricultural products from the Mekong Delta to industrial centers and international seaports."

"The 187-km Haiphong - Ha Long - Mong Cai railway line will be approximately 187 km long is part of the Master Plan for Vietnam's Railway Network for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050."

"According to the planning of the two localities, this railway line is about 57km long, the section through Tay Ninh province is about 27km long and the section through Ho Chi Minh City is 30km long. The starting point is at Tan Hung station, Ben Cat ward, Ho Chi Minh City and the ending point is at Moc Bai station, Ben Cau commune, Tay Ninh province."

What is not mentioned in the article is that this line could form the Vietnam half of a HCMC-Phnom Penh Railway.

"On September 6th, 2025, a new kind of train pulled out from Hà Nội station. Its name is Hà Nội 5 Cửa Ô - The Hanoi Train, a tourist train launched by Vietnam Railways. The name immediately evokes nostalgia, because “5 Cửa Ô” refers to five historic gates of the old Thăng Long citadel. This train is a cultural journey, a way of remembering."

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