These are my notes and observations on the various transport modes I took on this trip.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Manila International Airport (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) has the worst reputation for airports in Southeast Asia, so I was curious to see if it has improved since it was privatised in 2024.

The biggest improvement has been the addition of egates. My last time here took about an hour to get through immigration, so passing through immigration in under 5 minutes made a big difference in my arrival mood.

Having dedicated Grab taxi areas also takes the stress out of haggling over a taxi.

NAIA is not connected to the urban rail transit system of Manila, but there are plans to extend Metro Manila Subway (MRT-9) to the airport.

[Map by Itsquietuptown via Wikimedia.]

Manila: Vietnamese electric taxis

I had a short stay in Manila, and I visited Bonifacio Global City on one of my days.

While walking around Manila, I was surprised to see so many Green SM electric taxis.

Xanh SM is a Vietnamese taxi service that competes with Grab in the ride-hailing business. The company was founded by Vingroup, thus it exclusively uses Vinfast electric cars.

The company has been expanding across Southeast Asia, and it is rebranding as Green SM (xanh = green in Vietnamese), though the cars are more turquoise than green.

After my visit, it was announced that Green SM would expand with nearly 18,500 VinFast vehicles in the Philippines.

Train: Calamba-Lucena

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Main Line used to run from Manila to Legazpi. The line of approximately 500 km has deteriorated over the years, and there are now only two sections that are operating.

The Manila-Calamba section has been closed down to allow for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), so I got a bus from Manila to Calamba.

In preparation for NSCR construction, the Calamba Station had also closed down, and the train now starts at Halang Dos Flagstop in Calamba.

The railway is a single-track line, and part of the reason it is so slow is that it passes through urban areas.

The train to Lucena is timed for commuters, though I did meet a family of local tourists who were riding the train for the sake of it.

Here is my review of that trip: Riding the remnants of the Philippines South Main Line.

Lucena: Jeepney travel

Lucena has a few historic buildings and a gridded central business district that is easy to walk around. Lucena is about 150 km from Manila, so it would be too far to consider as a commuter city even if the new trains are built.

The long-distance bus station is outside the city centre, so I got a jeepney to the station to find out how to get to my next destination.

I was the first in the jeepney, so I had to move down the bench seat until I was next to the driver. Fares are collected upon boarding, and passengers pass the fare to other passengers, who then pass it to the driver. Being next to the driver meant that I was handling money for much of the trip.

There is a lot of nostalgia for the jeepney, but it has long since become an outdated mode of transport. There are plans to replace jeepneys as part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

Bus: Lucena to Naga

There is a big gap of abandoned railway between Lucena and Naga, so I had to get the bus for this section.

According to Google Maps, the distance between Lucena and Naga is 261 km, and the travel time is 6h 31m. That’s about 40 km/h.

The bus was coming from Manila, so I wasn’t sure if there would be seats available. The bus also stops at small towns on the way and picks up passengers. I got on early enough to secure a seat, but the bus still kept picking up passengers when the seats were filled.

The main road is the Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26).

The name and substantial thickness on the map make it sound like it is going to be an easy trip through Luzon. The reality is that most of the road is 2 lanes.

I followed the route on the map and noticed that the highway follows a similar path to the railway, and occasionally crosses paths.

Another section of the road travels along the coast, and it looked scenic from the glimpses I saw through the curtained windows.

I wondered how many small towns on the coast could become tourism destinations if they were accessible by rail.

Train: Naga to Lupi Viejo

Naga has two train services:

– Naga to Legazpi

– Naga to Lupi Viejo

The Naga to Legazpi service was knocked out of service by a typhoon in 2025. I have been following the news of its repair, and the last update in late 2025 said that the line would be operational by March 2026.

I knew that it was not going to be repaired by then, but I had this ideal travel window to visit in April (before the rainy season), so I booked the trip and hoped for the best. At the time of this post, it was still not operational.

I stopped in Naga to give myself a break from the bus and to see the commuter railway that runs from Naga to Lupi Viejo (about 50 km).

Bus: Naga to Legazpi

The bus from Naga to Legazpi was an easier trip than the Lucena to Naga bus. It’s a good road, and the frequent services mean you can just turn up to the station and get on a bus.

The road follows a similar path to the railway, so I was able to see when we crossed the tracks.

It’s a scenic route by road, and I would like to come back and see it by train.

Legazpi: End of the South Main Line

Legazpi Station is in the old part of the city near the waterfront. The station is closed, though it is still staffed with security guards and cleaners.

Part of the reason I wanted to see the old South Main Line was to be able to say that I have taken a train in every country in Southeast Asia that has a railway. The Philippines was the last country on that list.

I also wanted to see what the South Main Line looks like before its possible transformation into the PNR South Long Haul.

The new line is planned to have a top speed of 160 km/h. The line would also extend to the far south of Luzon, so this line could open up the region for tourism.

[Map by Philippine Railways Institute, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.]

I went for a walk along the seafront near the station. This area is a working residential area, and there are no shops or cafes. The road is called Legazpi Boulevard, but there is nothing grand about this road.

Legazpi Boulevard has a great view of Mayon Volcano, and this city would be a bustling tourist hub in other countries if it had a view like this.

Cities in the Philippines remind me of Indonesia, where I have wondered why there are no great coastal cities.

I will write a report on Legazpi at Nomadic Notes.

Bicol International Airport

Bicol International Airport opened in 2021 and serves the greater Legazpi area. They weren’t joking when it was described as the “most scenic gateway“

The view of the volcano is mesmerising, and it still baffles me that this area isn’t a tourism powerhouse.

Despite being an international airport, it only has flights to Manila and Cebu.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport

Getting out of Mactan-Cebu International Airport was a hassle. It didn’t help that my eSIM plan ran out a few hours beforehand. I had bought the plan with enough juice to get me to Cebu, but I miscalculated the expiry.

I didn’t have internet to book a Grab taxi, and the Grab stand was too far from the terminal to use the airport’s Wi-Fi. There was an attendant at the Grab stand who was assisting people without an app, so I used that service instead. After about 20 minutes of waiting, they said there weren’t enough cars.

With no prospect of getting a Grab, I walked to the taxi stand. I checked what the rates should be the night before, and the consensus was that it should be about 400 PHP to the city centre.

I was approached by a driver from a rank of yellow taxis. It’s always a bad sign if a taxi driver approaches you at the airport, and the fact that there was no one in the queue for the yellow taxis was another red flag. I asked if the fare was metered, and then he mentioned high fuel prices and said 800 PHP.  I said no, and the price went down, but I already felt like I was being overcharged. Meanwhile, there was a long queue at the white taxi stand, so the Cebuanos knew which taxi to use.

I ended up getting the airport bus, which is what I would have done in the first place, except that it doesn’t go to where I was staying in the old city area. I got the bus for 50 PHP and a taxi for 300 PHP. I overpaid for that taxi, but I didn’t know what the rate should be without having Grab as a comparison.

Having internet and the Grab app saves a lot of hassle in haggling when you don’t know what the going rate is. For comparison, my return Grab taxi to the airport cost was 400 PHP.

I had a late afternoon departure flight, so I checked out of my hotel and spent a few hours at the airport to have a look around.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport won the ASQ Best Airport in the 5–15 million passengers category in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025.

I can confirm that Cebu Airport deserves its accolades. The wooden beams and abundance of natural light give the departures area a relaxed vibe. I has happy enough to nurse an overpriced airport coffee and crack open the laptop for a few hours of work.

Cebu has terrible traffic, so I was glad to get to the airport early. It’s always a worry when the taxi driver asks what time your flight is when you are stuck in traffic.

Cebu would be a great city if it had a metro system, and there is a plan to build a metro that would connect the airport to the city and the coastal region of the island.

I will be writing more about my visit to Cebu in future posts.

The Phnom Penh metro is a proposed urban rail transit system in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The term metro is used loosely here, as there have been various forms of rail systems proposed over the years. Proposals have included sky trains, subways (another word for metro), light rail, and monorails.

Plans for an urban railway in Phnom Penh date back to the mid-2000s, with feasibility studies having been undertaken by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Chinese companies. The most likely routes would be a line from the central market to the airport, and a north-south line that would also cross at the central market. There have been no updates on the findings of the studies.

While these studies were going on, Phnom Penh launched an airport railway service by adding a spur line from the mainline that passes near the airport. This service has since closed.

Another factor that will need to be considered is the new Phnom Penh International Airport, which is currently under construction. It has been mentioned that a railway will serve the airport, but no plan for that has been published yet. The old airport will remain open, so future transport network planners will have to decide whether to run a railway to either one or two airports.

This post is an archive of news and links related to any future Phnom Penh urban railway developments. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to be updated when new links are added to this page.

Links And Resources

The Project For Comprehensive Urban Transport Plan In Phnom Penh Capital City (PPUTMP) [PDF] – [December 2014]
Report from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA’s Support for development of the Urban Railway in Phnom Penh [PDF]

Phnom Penh Light Rail Transit System – Links and discussion at skyscrapercity.

News Archive

2026

Phnom Penh metro feasibility study set for 2027 completion – [15/07/26]

“The full feasibility study for a public metro system in Phnom Penh will wrap up by 2027, only then will the government finally announce the official cost and the construction start date, according to officials.”

Chinese company wants to study the feasibility of developing a sky train transportation system in Phnom Penh – [06/06/26]

“Beijing Urban Construction Group of Beijing, People’s Republic of China, has expressed its desire to study the feasibility of developing a Sky Train system in Phnom Penh, as Phnom Penh faces traffic congestion despite the active operation of public bus services.”

2025

Public buses to serve Techo Airport as metro project still under study – [21/08/25]
“With the opening of Techo International Airport looming, Phnom Penh authorities have pledged to plug the public transport gap by providing a bus service as plans to develop a more advanced light rail and subway system to connect the city and the airport remain under review.”

Phnom Penh takes first step to realise metro rail dream – [14/03/25]

Phnom Penh Metro preliminary study issued – [13/03/25]
“Ambitious preliminary plans for a metro railway in Phnom Penh have been issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.”

Opinion: Why Phnom Penh urgently needs its own MRT system – [10/03/25]

Phnom Penh Metro Project Initial Study Underway – [07/03/25]
“The Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank have begun a preliminary metro project study in Phnom Penh, aiming to assess the feasibility of a modern public transport system to alleviate traffic congestion.”

2024

TIA to Phnom Penh railway underway, as airport enters final straight – [11/06/24]
“With the construction of Phnom Penh Techno International Airport (TIA) now nearing its home straight, representatives of the project have announced that preparations are now underway for the airport’s terminal-to-central-city railway development.”

CDC hears metro proposals for capital, airport connection – [19/03/24]
“The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) is conducting feasibility studies and examining proposals from a number of international companies who are considering investing in a light rail mass transit system in Phnom Penh.

The proposals include connections to the under-construction Techo International Airport (TIA).”

Chinese firms show feasibility of Light Railway connecting airport, metro in Phnom Penh – [19/03/24]
“The feasibility of a Light Railway line connecting Phnom Penh to the new airport and planned city metro (subway) was presented by the China Metro Group and Guangzhou Metro Group to the Inter-Ministry Committee of Cambodia on Saturday, said the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).”

Sun Chanthol chairs a meeting on the light rail project connecting Phnom Penh to the new airport and subway – [16/03/24]

Technical study presents positive findings on city light rail in PP, Siem Reap – [22/02/24]

2023

China firm on track to build Phnom Penh airport metro – [23/10/23]
“If China has its way, Phnom Penh could take a headlong leap into the future with a world-class rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT) system. The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) in a statement revealed plans by Chinese firm Guangzhou Metro Group to connect the city with the new international airport under construction currently.”

Chinese firm encouraged to study plans for Phnom Penh metro – [22/10/23]
“Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, has been speaking with a Chinese company to discuss the possibility of building a modern metro train system in Phnom Penh.”

Skytrain Coming: PM pushes for skytrain in Phnom Penh to meet the growing populace – [26/09/23]

2022

PP mega transport system studies at final stage – [28/12/22]
“The studies on the mega transport system – sky train, monorail, and subway – in Phnom Penh are being finalised, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, saying that the investment will likely be under the public-private partnership.”

Key study on capital’s rail project completed – [25/12/22]
“Preliminary studies on three options for a mass transit railway system for Phnom Penh have been completed, and after “a few adjustments”, a report will be submitted to Prime Minister Hun Sen to decide which choice to move ahead with, according to Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol.”

What are the benefits of a Phnom Penh with a modern rail transit system? – [26/10/22]

Government gives priority for Phnom Penh subway train – [01/09/22]

Ministry of Transport reviews monorail project for Phnom Penh – [27/06/22]

2021

ADB asked to craft game plan for monorail, subway – [07/04/21]
“The Ministry of Public Works and Transport on April 6 asked the Metro Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help devise strategies for monorail and subway projects planned for Phnom Penh.”

2020

Skytrain project could cost more than $ 1.4 billion, but no date has been set – [09/12/20]
“Senior Minister Sun Chanthol, Minister of Public Works and Transport, recently said that the JICA study project has already been studied. And the ministry is still waiting for the study results. In particular, the Monorail and subway projects of Chinese companies are studying.”

Promised sky train delayed over expense – [23/07/20]
“The government’s sky train project from Phnom Penh city centre to the international airport has been delayed because the cost is higher than expected, according to an official from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT).”

2019

Sky Train Plans Back On The Table – [05/09/19]
“The Royal Government of Cambodia plans to spend a total of 1.843 billion US dollars to build a ‘skytrain’ style light rail and subway project from the new downtown (Central Market) to the Zongzhou (*Chom Chao?) area in Phnom Penh. The project is planned to start in 2020.”

Study on mass transit system completed – [10/07/19]
“The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has concluded a feasibility study on the AGT, an electric mass transit system that could help reduce traffic congestion in Phnom Penh.”

Feasibility studies for monorail and metro system started – [11/04/19]
“In a bid to reduce the city’s traffic woes, a group of Chinese experts has begun feasibility studies on a monorail project and a metro system in Phnom Penh.”

“A feasibility study for an automated gateway transit (AGT) system, an electric-powered mass transit system, in Phnom Penh is also being conducted in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).”

Authorities weigh up options over new transit system in Phnom Penh – [10/04/19]
“…the ministry was looking into three options regarding railway projects – an automated guideway transit (AGT) system, a monorail and a metro.”

2018

Cambodia’s First skytrain ready for Sea Games 2023 – [07/06/18]

Minister talks sky train plan as Grab signs initiative with UN – [07/06/18]
“The minister of public works and transport confirmed on Tuesday that a Japanese-funded sky train project in the capital is moving forward, with the feasibility study expected to be completed this year or next.”

Sky train link from Phnom Penh to Morodok Techo stadium planned – [04/02/18]
“Five years ahead of Cambodia hosting the 2023 SEA Games at the state-of-the-art $157 million Morodok Techo National Sports Complex on the outskirts of the capital, the Public Works and Transport Ministry has included a sky train link between Phnom Penh and the Games’ main venue in its expansive plan to build an Automated Transit Gateway System (AGT) in association with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).”

Will China’s Sky Train enter Cambodia? – [23/01/18]
“China’s trains reach new heights! The Sky Train, powered by lithium batteries, can operate 5 meters above ground. A delegation from Cambodia expressed the hope last week that this new mode of transport could be brought to Phenom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.”

Cambodia seeks China-made panda-shaped ‘sky train’ – [16/01/18]
“The Chinese company behind the panda-shaped “sky train” said it hopes to introduce the project into Cambodia.”

2017

Skytrain studies completed – [20/10/17]
“The government has completed preliminary studies on a $900 million skytrain from Phnom Penh city centre to the international airport.”

Japanese expert to study possible airport skytrain routes – [15/08/17]
“Japanese officials will begin studying possible routes for a skytrain connecting Central Market to Phnom Penh International Airport, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Monday after securing a loan agreement with Japan last week.”

Prime Minister requests Japan’s funds for Phnom Penh skytrain – [08/08/17]
“Prime Minister Hun Sen is expected to request $800 million from Japan during a visit there this week to fund the construction of an elevated rail system running from Phnom Penh’s center to the capital’s airport, an official said on Monday.”

Cambodia to ask Japan to invest $800 million in skytrain – [07/08/17]
“Cambodia will ask Japan to invest $800 million in a skytrain system for the capital Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday during a visit to Tokyo.”

New skytrain gets investors on track – [17/05/17]

Skytrain a bold vision for city – [11/05/17]
“Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has confirmed it will kick off work on a feasibility study for a $800 million skytrain that would run through Phnom Penh following recent talks between Japanese and Cambodian ministers.”

Proposed skyline train is the future, transport officials say – [02/02/17]
“Japan’s international aid agency is proposing to bring a driverless skyline train to the city, capable of whisking commuters on a smooth ride to and from work on a track above the streets.”

2016

Inner-City “AGT” Train System in Phnom Penh announced by Minister of Transport – [11/10/16]

$800 Million for mass transit system – [06/09/16]
“Cambodia is seeking a budget of $800 million to develop an automated gateway transit (AGT) system following the completion of a year-long feasibility study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said Minister of Transport Sun Chanthol yesterday.”

JICA moots city transit system – [04/08/16]
“The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is helping Cambodia conduct a feasibility study on an automated gateway transit system (AGT) to overcome Phnom Penh’s daily gridlock, caused by traffic congestion, during peak hours.”

2015

Cambodian government plans to build sky-train in Phnom Penh – [07/08/15]
“According to the source from National Television Kampuchea, on 6 August 2015 the government of Cambodia declared that Cambodia is planning to build sky-train in Phnom Penh city under the cooperation between Cambodia and Japan.”

2014

Long-term plan to ease congestion nearly done – [21/08/14]
“Developed in conjunction with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the plan considers the options available to reduce the number of vehicles in the city, including more busses, a tramway, a subway and even a sky train”.

Flyovers, subway on the drawing board for Phnom Penh – [01/05/14]

2013

‘Master plan’ drawn for Phnom Penh public transport system – [01/07/13]
“The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) met with Phnom Penh municipal authorities last month to present the first stage of a “master plan” for the construction of a much-needed public transport system for the capital.”

2011

Psychological factors influencing behavioral intention toward future sky train usage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia – [2011]
“A study is presented on an extension of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate the commuter’s behavioral intention toward future sky train usage in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.”

2007

Mixed reactions arise over planned sky train in Phnom Penh – [20/08/07]
“(Xinhua) — A Phnom Penh Municipal official has expressed doubt in the viability of plans announced by the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) to build electric sky train networks over the city’s increasingly car-jammed boulevards, while others have welcomed the proposal, local media reported on Monday.”

Time to plan city transit system is now: experts – [01/08/07]

Travel plans

Greetings from Chiang Mai. I’ve been here for nearly two months, so it is time to move on before my visa expires.

I am returning to Vietnam in July to act as a quasi-tour guide for some Australian friends. The trip includes Da Nang/Hoi An and Hanoi. I will be visiting the main tourist sites in Hanoi with my friends, but I don’t think they will be interested in seeing the demolition works around the city. I will make time to see some of the construction sites that are reshaping Hanoi.

After Vietnam, I will stop over in Singapore en route to Indonesia. Singapore and KL are the best travel hubs for getting to anywhere in Indonesia outside of Jakarta and Bali. I’ve already been to KL this year, so I picked Singapore.

The last section of the Circle Line on the Singapore MRT is opening in July, so I will be checking that out. One of the new stations (Cantonment) is at the old Tanjong Pagar Station (where the Singapore-KL train used to depart). It’s good that there is a metro station here now, but it is still disappointing that there is no railway service between the two cities with one of the busiest flight routes in the world.

I will be in Indonesia for one month, and this is a follow-up from my one-month rail-themed trip in 2024. My 2026 trip starts in Padang, where I will be riding the limited railways of West Sumatra. This is the only section of the railways of Sumatra that I haven’t been on.

After Sumatra, I will go to Jakarta (which is now the world’s largest city since my last visit). I will do some updates for my transit guide to Jakarta, and then visit some new-to-me places in Java by rail.

If you are in any of those places and would like to meet up, feel free to send a message.

Site news

Updated: Motorbike barriers of Southeast Asia

Chiang Mai has now entered the gallery of shame on the motorbike barriers of Southeast Asia list. A motorbike barrier has been installed at the main city gate (and probably the best-known landmark of the city).

Many of the bike barriers I have listed have at least attempted to allow step-free access. This is just pure laziness.

Weekly news

I publish the weekly news update every Wednesday for paid subscribers. This is a round-up of news related to transport and urban development in the region.

Note: I have now completed the newsletter migration from news.futuresoutheastasia.com to futuresoutheastasia.com. Some newsletters were still being sent via the old address, but all emails will now be from futuresoutheastasia.com.

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Here are the last month’s issues of the weekly newsletter (click article links to upgrade).

• Future Southeast Asia News [24 Jun 2026]

Raising awareness of city planning in Cambodia, Jakarta builds pedestrian deck to link six transit modes, Philippines weighs return to China for stalled Mindanao railway, the engineering challenges behind the Circle Line loop, single-entry fare system for Bangkok rail network, Hanoi launches construction of five metro lines spanning over 300 km.

• Future Southeast Asia News [17 Jun 2026]

Indonesia targets 10,524 km railway network expansion, LRT3 Shah Alam Line ready for operations by end June, Manila-Bulacan-Pampanga-Bataan Coastal Road-Dike Project, Bangkok airports target 120 million ‘by 2029’, Vietnam to add 7 new airports by 2030.

• Future Southeast Asia News [10 Jun 2026]

Phnom Penh’s public space shortage, Trans-Sumatra Railway project from Aceh to Lampung, MAHB to invest RM11bil in airport expansion over 5 years, MRT-7 will retain all 14 stations, a first look at 3 new Circle Line MRT stations, Bangkok city plan to unlock rail-linked mega-projects, Hanoi drowns in construction debris.

• Future Southeast Asia News [3 Jun 2026]

Cambodia vows urban renewal, Vang Vieng old airport development, New Kuching International Airport, no bridge to Boracay, Thailand’s long-delayed three-airport high-speed rail project, Ho Chi Minh City ordered to expand its metro tenfold by 2030.

In Case You Missed It (this month’s articles)

Hanoi’s ambitious 5-line metro launch

Bonifacio Global City – The Singapore of Manila, or the Manhattan of Asia?

Redeveloping the old Vang Vieng CIA airstrip into “The City That Never Sleeps”