Cambodia’s airport rail plans, the 20 billion USD Bali Subway, connecting Penang island to the mainland by LRT, nationalising Bangkok’s urban railways, and Vietnam’s provincial urban railway plans.
Welcome to the urban rail transit report for Southeast Asia for 2024. This report covers urban rail transit systems that are planned or under construction in Southeast Asia.
🇰🇭 Cambodia
Phnom Penh
There is a plan for some form of transit system in Phnom Penh in the future, but this plan has not progressed.
The most likely first line will be an airport rail link from the new airport to the city. Techo International Airport is about 24 km from the city centre, and it is expected to open in 2025.
Read updates about the Phnom Penh Metro.
Siem Reap
An airport rail link has also been proposed for Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport, which is 50 km from Siem Reap.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Indonesia is moving its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in Kalimantan. The move is partly to place the capital closer to the geographic centre of Indonesia. It is also symbolic of trying to build infrastructure outside of Java.
In terms of urban railways, there are numerous plans for provincial transit systems. “The Ministry of Transportation is supporting the provision of special allocation funds for public transportation, particularly in underdeveloped, frontier, outermost, and border areas.”
Despite these plans, most of the action remains in Jakarta.
Jakarta
Jakarta has an underrated transit system, though it can be confusing with the different system types (MRT, LRT, and commuter rail).
To learn more about the system, I made a separate website dedicated to the transit railways of Jakarta at https://jakartarailtransit.com/. I became annoyed with not being able to find a unified map (the lines have different operators), so I have put the unified map here.
North–South Line (Jakarta MRT)
The northern extension (Phase 2) of the North-South Line is under construction. This will connect the Chinatown area and Kota Old Town to the metro system.
MRT Jakarta completes southbound tunnel linking Glodok and Kota stations
East-West Line (Jakarta MRT)
The East-West Line is the second MRT line in Jakarta, and it will interchange with the North-South Line.
Indonesia secures $903 million Japanese loan to extend MRT project
Jakarta LRT
Jakarta LRT Phase 1B (Velodrome-Rawamangun) began test trials, and the line (Velodrome-Manggarai) is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.
LRT Jabodebek
LRT Jabodebek serves 7mn passengers in 6 months of operation
Bandung
Finance Ministry approves Greater Bandung LRT project
Bali
One of the most ambitious announcements of 2024 is the proposed Bali Subway (also referred to as an MRT or LRT). There have been various proposals for a railway in Bali, with the most recent being the Airport-Kuta line (the closest beach to the airport).
The proposal has since turned into a transit system with 4 different lines. The lines will go to the tourist hotspot of Canggu, Nusa Dua on the Bukit Peninsula, and Ubud. The project has been quoted as costing 20 billion USD.
There was a ceremony for the laying of the first construction stone, but the project is nowhere near starting.
In addition to the metro, there is a beach tram proposal. This is a separate project, and there haven’t been any updates since the metro announcement.
Nusantara
The new capital of Nusantara has been trialling an ART (Autonomous Rail Transit) system. This is basically a bus that looks like a tram, but I included it in the rail transit update. The government gave it a test run, but they have decided to return the vehicles to the manufacturer in China.
Makassar
There is a proposed MRT for Makassar in Sulawesi. There haven’t been any news updates in the English press, so I have been translating some local articles. The details and article links are at https://futuresoutheastasia.com/makassar-urban-rail-transit/
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
MRT Circle Line (MRT 3)
Construction of MRT3 project may only start in 2027, says MRT Corp
What is a ‘circle line’, and how can this new MRT route solve Klang Valley’s transport woes?
Shah Alam Line (LRT 3)
Not to be confused with MRT 3, the under-construction LRT 3 is expected to open in March 2025. LRT 3 had five stations reinstated after being cut for budgetary reasons, and they are expected to be operational in 2027.
KL Monorail
The KL Monorail is my least favourite transit line in Southeast Asia. It looks cool when it goes by, but it’s not a smooth ride, and the cabins feel cramped. One of the biggest problems is access to the stations, so this is a problem that could be fixed:
Transport minister: Govt to spend RM50m to upgrade monorail stations in KL
Putrajaya
Putrajaya is considering developing an autonomous rail transit (ART) system.
Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system under trial in Putrajaya
Penang
After years of consideration, Penang looks set to build its first rail transit line. Penang’s Light Rail Transport (Mutiara Line) will start construction in December with a groundbreaking event. The 29km line will start from Penang Sentral in Butterworth, so Penang will have a rail line that connects the mainland to the island.
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru was considering an LRT system, but they are now considering an ART to reduce cost.
The JB-Singapore RTS Link was almost 80% complete in June and is expected to be completed in 2026.
Kuching
The Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) is an ART system that will use hydrogen vehicles. The first ART hydrogen vehicles are expected to arrive by the end of 2024, and the first phase is expected to be operational by the end of 2027.
Melaka
A 3-line tram system for Melaka was proposed by a private developer in December 2023. The website has since gone offline, so is most likely not going to happen. I have a fact sheet of the Melaka City Tramway System.
Langkawi
The proposed Langkawi LRT came and went in the space of about a week. If I had been on holiday and offline, I may never have known this was proposed. Here are the limited details of the proposal.
🇵🇭 Philippines
Manila
LRT-1
The first 5 stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project (L1CE) opened in November 2024. Unfortunately, there is no direct link from the new LRT-1 station to NAIA due to right-of-way issues.
LRT-2
LRT 2 project linking Recto, Tondo kicking off in 2025
Metro Manila Subway
First PH subway to partially open by 2028—DOTr
MRT-4
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) hopes to break ground on Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4) within the first quarter of 2025.
MRT-7
MRT-7 still on track to partially open next year: DOTr
Makati Subway
The Makati Intra-City Subway has been cancelled due to a territorial dispute with Taguig City. The Manila National Capital Region is made up of 16 cities and one municipality. It is crazy that such an important project was derailed because the cities are administered separately and not for the greater good of Metro Manila.
Makati-Taguig Skytrain
AGI is still keen on the Skytrain monorail project that will link Fort Bonifacio to the MRT Guadalupe Station.
North-South Commuter Railway
PNR says North-South Commuter Railway may start partial operations in 2026 and be fully completed in 2028.
🇸🇬 Singapore
Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL4)
Seven more stations of the Thomson-East Coast Line opened in June 2024. This article explains some of the challenges in constructing the line.
Cross Island Line (CRL)
LTA awards contracts worth $599m for Cross Island Line tunnels and power supply system
Construction work for Jurong Lake District MRT station to start in fourth quarter of 2024
Jurong Region Line (JRL)
The JRL will consist of 24 stations and is set to open in phases from 2027.
East-West Line (EWL)
The East-West Line suffered a malfunction where passengers had to walk on the elevated railway. Here is a timeline of what happened on Sept 25.
Sengkang–Punggol LRT
First 2 new trains for Sengkang-Punggol LRT arrive in Singapore, will enter service in Q3 2025
Teck Lee LRT station in Punggol opens nearly 20 years after it was built
Bukit Panjang LRT
LTA to return first 2 new Bukit Panjang LRT trains to China plant for modifications
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thailand is still Bangkok-centric with its urban railway development, with no urban railway systems under construction in the provinces.
Bangkok
There haven’t been any new line openings, but there have been important updates with ticketing and operations.
A maximum 20 baht fare was introduced for the Red and Purple lines, and the 20 baht cap is planned to be extended to all lines. The cheaper fares have increased ridership by 17.7%.
The city government has proposed acquiring the concessions for Bangkok’s train lines:
“The Finance Ministry and Transport Ministry have begun exploring the idea of acquiring the concessions for seven electric train lines, valued at roughly 500 billion baht, to bring them under state ownership.”
There is also talk of a congestion charge on vehicles entering central Bangkok to help fund the flat-fare policy.
BTS
Transport Ministry eyes 20-baht flat fare for Skytrain by 2025
Purple Line (MRT)
The southern extension of the Purple Line is progressing, and it was reported that 33.82 per cent of the overall project had been completed as of May. The extension is expected to be open to the public in 2028.
Orange Line (MRT)
Construction of the Eastern half of the Orange Line is complete, though it is not expected to open until 2028.
Construction work on the western section of the Orange Line is expected to start next year.
Yellow Line (Monorail)
The Yellow Line service was temporarily suspended in March after parts fell onto the street. This was following an incident in January when a wheel fell off.
Pink Line (Monorail)
The 3km spur line extension was 60% complete in July, and there was another incident where part of the monorail fell off and hit a car.
Brown Line (Monorail)
“Bidding for the Brown Line’s construction is expected to be conducted in 2025 with the work to begin in 2026. It should be ready to begin services in 2029.”
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has been planning a light rail/tram system for years. This plan has never made sense, considering there are few roads that have space for a tram. There are now talks of building a tunnel in the city centre, so it would be more like a metro system.
Phuket
The Phuket Light Rail project continues with its on-again, off-again status. News reports over the last year included a mention of a monorail from the airport to Phuket Town, and the original plan of a light rail.
Khon Kaen
Work on the light rail transit system in Khon Kaen was expected to begin in 2025, though this was before a fire damaged the prototype tram.
Read more about the Khon Kaen Transit System.
Pattaya
Pattaya has approved the proposed Purple Line monorail:
“Pattaya City has approved the plan to build an 11-kilometre monorail line that will run from the Thap Phraya intersection on the city’s west side to Nong Mai Kaen in the east.”
Nakhon Ratchasima
There was a passing mention of the otherwise forgotten Nakhon Ratchasima LRT project. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) plans to develop a light rail system in Nakhon Ratchasima. The agency estimates the cost will be 7 billion baht for Nakhon Ratchasima.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Vietnam now has two metro lines, and the third line is on the cusp of opening. There have also been some ambitious proposals in other cities around the country.
Hanoi
Line 3 partially opened in August 2024 after 14 years of construction. The underground section of Line 3 is still under construction
Line 3 joins Line 2A as the two operating metro lines in Hanoi. I visited Hanoi in October 2024, and here is my review of Line 3 and Line 2A.
Ho Chi Minh City
Line 1
It appears that Line 1 of the HCMC Metro is finally going to open on 22 December 2024. This line started construction in 2012, and it was supposed to be finished by 2018. Even now, there are some disagreements with contractors that might threaten the opening, so I will not believe it until it is open.
Thao Dien Station, Line 1 of HCMC Metro
Line 2
Line 2 has had even more delays than Line 1, and it is still not under construction. The route is being prepared with land clearance and underground infrastructure being moved. The most recent announcement was that the government would fund the line instead of relying on loans.
Thu Thiem-Long Thanh Light Rail
A light rail is proposed to connect Thu Thiem to the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport. The new airport is about 40 km from the city centre, so the railway should have been built in conjunction with the airport.
Da Nang
Da Nang has been proposing urban railways since 2012, and the latest proposal is for two MRT lines and two LRT routes by 2030, followed by another four LRT lines and one BRT (bus rapid transit) route by 2045.
The first line is proposed to connect the airport to the beach area of the city, and the proposal includes linking to neighbouring Hoi An.
Hue
A tramway has been proposed for Hue
Hai Phong
Hai Phong plans to build 8 new railway lines
“Hai Phong plans to build 4 new national railway lines; 4 urban railway lines.”
Bac Ninh province
Bắc Ninh plans urban railway and two additional highways to foster development
“For the urban railway system, the plan explores the potential implementation of Light Rapid Transit (LRT) and envisions constructing twelve urban railway lines.”
Ha Long / Quang Ninh province
Quang Ninh will have 3 urban railway lines
“According to the planning of Quang Ninh province in the period of 2021 – 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister last February, there are three newly planned urban railway lines in this province.”
Dong Nai province
Dong Nai province is east of Ho Chi Minh City and is part of the Greater HCMC metropolitan region. The province includes Long Thanh International Airport.
Dong Nai plans 4 new urban railway lines
“4 urban railway lines are expected to be planned by Dong Nai province, including urban railway along Cai river; urban railway Bien Hoa – Nhon Trach – Long Thanh; urban railway Bien Hoa – Trang Bom – Long Khanh; urban railway Long Khanh – Long Thanh.”
Ba Ria – Vung Tau province
Ba Ria – Vung Tau province is next to Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City and is also part of the Greater HCMC metropolitan region.
Ba Ria – Vung Tau planning three urban railway lines
“Three urban railway lines are planned by Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, including the route on the coastal road and surrounding the inner city of Vung Tau city; Inner-suburban route between Vung Tau city and Long Hai town of Long Dien district and Metro line connecting Vung Tau – Ba Ria – Phu My – Long Thanh.”
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