Cambodia railway development faces speed limits

Cambodia railway development continues to move slowly, despite years of government efforts to expand rail’s role in the country’s transport system. As reported by Cambodianess, passenger travel is still dominated by road and air. Rail remains a limited option for most journeys.

The network has two main lines. Both serve important regions of the country. Both are limited to a single daily departure. In 2025, railway passengers in Cambodia were estimated at 400,000. By contrast, buses and taxis carried more than 20 million passengers. Around seven million people travelled by air.

Cambodia railway development and passenger limits

The Southern Line is the most used part of the system. It connects Phnom Penh, Takeo, Kep, Kampot and Holy Heal with Sihanoukville. Much of its traffic comes from tourists travelling to the coast. Some Phnom Penh families also use the train on weekends and national holidays.

Don’t miss…West Bengal rail projects add new train and station upgrades

Meanwhile, the Northern Line runs from Phnom Penh through Romeas, Bomnak, Pursat and Moung Russey. It then continues to Battambang. It previously reached Poipet before the border conflict.

Train journeys in Cambodia can be pleasant. The seats are comfortable. The carriages are spacious, well maintained and air-conditioned. Ticket prices are also lower than those for taxis, planes and even some bus services. Phnom Penh-Battambang tickets cost $8. Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville fares are $10.

Still, travel time remains the biggest problem. Royal Railway advertises a journey of 6h30 from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. The same trip takes 3h by bus. Delays are also common.

Also, speeds are limited to 40-50 km/h. The tracks are unsuitable. The railways are also unprotected. This leaves them exposed to weather and human-related risks. Rail crossings are operated manually. An agent must be present at each intersection. Trains may also have to stop until traffic clears.

At the same time, the slow pace gives passengers a rare view of Cambodian landscapes and remote areas. It does not suit everyday transport needs. The limited schedule adds to the problem. Each line has only one departure per day.

Royal Railway Cambodia and local access

Rail development could also create opportunities for remote areas crossed by the routes. Takeo is one example. It is less than two hours from Phnom Penh by train.

For example, the small Takeo station stands beside Doun Kaev on the route to Kampot and Sihanoukville. Doun Kaev is the capital of Takeo province. For tourists, railway remains the easiest and cheapest way to reach this town of 40,000 habitants. It also remains the easiest and cheapest way to visit the wider province. Canal boats connect travellers to nearby Angkor Borei and Phnom Da.

After decades of decline, Cambodia began reviving its network through projects launched with foreign funding. Chinese funding was a key part of that support. This helped bring about railway rehabilitation in the late 2010s. Today, the 612km system is operated by Royal Railway Cambodia under a government concession.

In addition, Cambodia has continued to pursue railway development through new transport agreements tied to Royal Railway, as previously covered by Railway Supply.

Cambodia high-speed rail project and freight plans

In 2023, Cambodia introduced its Comprehensive Master Plan on the Cambodian Intermodal Transport and Logistics System 2023-2033. According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the plan places rail among the country’s infrastructure priorities. It sets out plans for high-speed lines capable of 160 km/h. It also targets 1.5 million passengers by the end of the decade.

Separately, the Cambodia high-speed rail project for the Phnom Penh-Poipet line is estimated at $4 billion. Increasing railway capacity is primarily intended to speed up the transport of goods.

In 2024, Cambodia’s railway transported 1.16 million tonnes of freight. That was up 8.29% on 2023. Even so, Cambodia rail freight transport still accounts for only 7% of national goods movement.

Also, Cambodia has worked on linking its railway with the systems in Thailand and Vietnam. The aim is to strengthen ties with neighbouring countries. The aim is also to strengthen ties with strategic Chinese trade routes across Southeast Asia. The Phnom Penh-Poipet line was connected to Thailand in 2019 via Poipet. Trains now stop at Battambang because of the conflict. The Vietnam connection remains an ongoing project.

Still, three railway projects are currently underway:

• one will link Techo International Airport to Phnom Penh and the rest of the national network;
• another will create a high-speed line from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap;
• the third will introduce small trains between Siem Reap Airport and Siem Reap.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: