Southeast Asia Railways News (September 2025)

Indonesia pushes ahead with Jakarta–Surabaya high-speed rail plan, ETS3 debuts on KL-Kluang route, rehabilitation of Laguna-Bicol train route, Thailand and Malaysia to revive Bangkok-Butterworth rail link, Vietnam North–South high-speed rail construction planned for December

Author

James Clark
September 06, 2025

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

News

🇮🇩 Indonesia

“Indonesia is pushing ahead with the feasibility study for a high-speed rail line connecting Jakarta and Surabaya in East Java, with the government stressing that planning must be comprehensive, sustainable, and backed by robust financing”.

"Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, has pledged to help resolve mounting problems at the country’s first high-speed rail line, the Jakarta–Bandung service known as Whoosh, which has become an emblem of both ambition and excess."

"The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has confirmed that it will review the feasibility study regarding the plan to transfer long-distance train services (KAJJ) from Gambir Station to Manggarai Station."

🇱🇦 Laos

🇲🇾 Malaysia

"KTMB Southern Region senior manager Salim Misdi said the ETS3 operates a two-way service between KL Sentral and Kluang with six coaches."

"Phase 1, stretching from Kota Bharu to Gombak Integrated Terminal, is expected to finish by December 2026.

Operations for Phase 1 are set to begin in January 2027.

Phase 2, extending from Gombak to Port Klang, is targeted for completion by December 2027."

🇲🇲 Myanmar

"The renowned Gokteik bridge was bombed on Sunday, with the ruling military junta and rebel forces blaming each other for its destruction."

🇵🇭 Philippines

"Despite receiving only a fraction of its proposed funding, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) is pushing ahead with the rehabilitation of its 422-kilometer South Long Haul line from Laguna province to the Bicol region, a major infrastructure project seen to cut travel time and boost regional economies."

"The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to update the feasibility study on the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) to finally onboard a lender for the project’s development two years after the Marcos Jr. administration backed out from a Chinese financing deal."

🇹🇭 Thailand

"Once the Bangkok-Butterworth service is reinstated, passengers will no longer need to change trains at Padang Besar. They will undergo immigration checks there but continue their journey on the same train to Butterworth, similar to the existing Bangkok-Vientiane service."

"The Transport Ministry has confirmed that the plan for Phase 2 of the dual-track railway project spanning more than 1,200 kilometres is ready for approval."

"The Blue Jasmine will roll through five provinces in the Thai countryside."

Here is the official website.

🇻🇳 Vietnam

"Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered localities to expedite site-clearance process for the North–South high-speed railway project with a view to commencing construction on December 19 this year."

"Vietnam aims to speed up the implementation of key railway projects connecting with China, including the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong, Hanoi–Lang Son, and Hanoi–Mong Cai lines."

"The train, departing from Hanoi’s Gia Lam station, now reaches Nanning, China, in 11 hours, down from 14 hours, with simplified immigration processes."

"Many residents of the capital lined up to experience a double-decker train named “Hà Nội 5 cửa ô” (Five Gates Train) which debuted on August 19 on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and the National Day (September 2)."

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