The Phnom Penh – Siem Reap Railway is a proposed new railway connecting the capital of Cambodia to the tourism hotspot of Siem Reap (the city near Angkor). The railway is one of a number of railways that have been proposed in Cambodia, including another railway that would connect Siem Reap to Poipet (and thus Thailand).
Public records outlining a Phnom Penh – Siem Reap railway can be found from 2012 in a presentation by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). There have been several proposals since then, but Cambodia has been working on rehabilitating the two lines it currently operates.
This page is an archive of news and other resources related to the Phnom Penh – Siem Reap railway project.
Links and resources
Railway Rehabilitation and Development in Cambodia for the Trans-Asian Railway Network [PDF]
Fifth meeting of the working group on the Trans-Asian Railway Network and Global Smart Rail Conference – Busan, Republic of Korea, 13-15 June 2017
Presentation on Cambodia Railway Master Plan for the 36th ASEAN Railway CEO’s Conference – [30/10/14]
Overview on transport infrastructure sectors in the Kingdom of Cambodia (4th Edition) [PDF] – [2012]
2.3.2 Future Development Plan
The study of Batdeng-Loc Ninh section was done by China. The envisioned railway lines will be prioritized by the master plan study, supported by Korea.
– Plan to establish railway station at Tonlebet, Kampong Cham province, where road and waterway transport networks are met.
– Tbaeng Meanchey (Preah Vihear) to Sihanoukville (L4: through Kampong Thom, Skun, Batdeung and Phnom Penh). The primary purpose of this railway is to export mine particularly iron ore from mineral rich province of Preah Vihear to the world through Sihanoukville port.
– Siem Reap to Skun through Kampong Thom (L5-1). The total length of this line is 239km.
– Sisophon to Siem Reap (L5-2). The total length of this line is 105km.
– Snuol to Lao P.D.R border through Kratie and Thalaborivat (Stung Treng) provinces (L6). The total length of this line is 273km.
[Cambodia railways network including future plan (view full size.)]
News archive
2022
Cambodia may start building high speed rail as early as 2023 – [29/12/22]
“…studies on the existing Poipet-Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville railway are “nearing completion” while those on the new Poipet-Siem Reap-Kampong Thom-Kampong Chhnang-Phnom Penh and Phnom Penh-Bavet lines are underway”.
2020
Cambodia looks to expand its railways network – [07/10/20]
“In May 2019, by request of the Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, China Railway Construction Corporation arrived in Cambodia to conduct feasibility studies on Cambodian railway upgrades, including bridge and track repairs, and double-tracking. High-speed service routes between Siem Reap – Phnom Penh – Kampot – Sihanoukville, and rapid transit construction in Phnom Penh were also part of the study.”
2019
Chinese team ready to begin study on railroad revamp – [10/05/19]
“The Cambodian government also requested CRCC to prepare a feasibility study for a new rail line connecting Siem Reap and Serey Sophoan district in Banteay Meanchey province.”
2018
Train for trade in Southeast Asia – [27/08/18]
“Last year, the Royal Group, the company in charge of the Cambodian railways, signed an agreement with the Chinese companies Railway 17th Bureau Group and Sino Great Wall International Engineering. They are studying the idea of building new lines that will connect Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam and to Siem Reap in the north of Cambodia.”
Cambodia’s rail back on track after four decades of woe – [04/06/18]
“Last year, China Railway 17 Bureau Group and Sino Great Wall International Engineering reportedly signed a joint venture agreement in Beijing with Royal Railways to upgrade the rail system as necessary and link Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and eastern provinces.”
2017
Chinese companies to develop new Cambodian railways – [17/05/17]
“New railways stretching from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, and to the Vietnamese border in the other direction, are to be built under new plans with backing from two Chinese companies.”
2016
Interest shown in Siem Reap rail connection – [24/06/16]
“Private sector companies have expressed interest in building a high-speed railway to connect Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and the Thai border town of Poipet, Transportation Minister Sun Chanthol announced yesterday.”
2015
China firm wants to build railway in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta hub – [14/03/15]
“The railway would connect the Mekong Delta hub with Ho Chi Minh City and the Cambodian cities of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap”.
“The CSCEC has proposed building a 180km Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh City track, whereas the respective lengths of the services to Siem Riep and Phnom Penh are 320km and 243km, according to the South Korean consultant.”
So having spent all that money renovating the old lines so one passenger train a day can run at the grand speed of 30 kph and at the moment the “international train” is still a grand dream they are now going to spend a fortune on building new railways.
Yes it makes sense but only if properly done and really will take significant traffic off the roads both freight and passengers