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Cambodia reinstates Sisophon – Battambang railway

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Cambodia reinstates Sisophon – Battambang railway

30 Apr 2018

csm_tn_kh-poipet-sisophon-inauguration-loco-20180404__6__01_d2d26ae634.jpg csm_tn_kh-poipet-sisophon-track-ministry-20180404_01_a9e717aa84.jpg

 

CAMBODIA: The reopening of a further 69 km of main line railway was celebrated on April 29 when an inaugural train ran from Sisophon to Battambang carrying Transport Minister Sun Chanthol.

 

The reopening of this section of the country’s northern main line between Phnom Penh and the Thai border marks a further step in the revival of the country’s railway, following the opening of the 48 km Poipet – Sisophon section on April 4. The 386 km line connecting Phnom Penh to the Thai rail network was completed in 1942, but damaged by fighting in the early 1970s. In 2009 the Asian Development Bank and the Cambodian government agreed to fund reinstatement, and work was launched with a groundbreaking ceremony in Poipet on July 25 2014. However, while this partnership helped to rebuild the southern main line between Phnom Penh and the port of Sihanoukville which reopened in 2011, the northern line has been a more challenging project, with land acquisition and resettlement of residents causing particular problems. As a result, the reinstatement of the northern line is now being funded solely by the Cambodian government at an estimated cost of US$200m.

 

‘The track from Battambang to Pursat will be ready by the end of May’, predicted John Guiry, Chief Executive of operating concessionaire Royal Railway Co. The government has set a goal of completing rehabilitation of the Poipet – Phnom Penh line by the end of June, Chanthol added.

 

Guiry noted that while the Sisophon - Battambang section has five formal level crossings, there are as many as 60 unofficial crossing points, warning that line speeds are unlikely to exceed 30 km/h in the short term.

 

Planners are optimistic about the prospects for cross-border trains into Thailand using the railway between Arayaprathet station in Thailand and Poipet which was completed earlier this year. A temporary facility for customs, quarantine and immigration checks has reportedly been built in Poipet. However, a formal railway operating agreement between the two countries has yet to be finalised.

 

 

SOURCE

 

Edited by Parrothead
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Oz Jon

From that photo it looks like a narrow gauge track? - not the standard 4ft 8 1/2 (56.5")?

 

386km of that, at 30km/hr, would be an epic journey!

 

Rock on!

 

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Parrothead
46 minutes ago, Oz Jon said:

From that photo it looks like a narrow gauge track? - not the standard 4ft 8 1/2 (56.5")?

 

386km of that, at 30km/hr, would be an epic journey!

 

Rock on!

 

 

Taking most of the day to go that distance, rather than arriving in less than 6 hours (taking it easy in a car, or on a motorcycle)? Not for me.

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John_Galt
11 hours ago, Parrothead said:

Taking most of the day to go that distance, rather than arriving in less than 6 hours (taking it easy in a car, or on a motorcycle)? Not for me.

 

It would take longer but.

I think it would be a little safer? 

You wouldn't be weaving in and out of traffic. 
 

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Parrothead
3 hours ago, John_Galt said:

It would take longer but.

I think it would be a little safer? 

You wouldn't be weaving in and out of traffic. 

 

Maybe you've missed some news regarding train incidents, here? :D 

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John_Galt
2 hours ago, Parrothead said:

Maybe you've missed some news regarding train incidents, here? :D 


I havent seen any train derailments in the news here. Only thing have seen recently is people getting hit by the train. That only makes the ride longer if they notice and stop.

Every day there is serous bus/van accidents in the news.

I have seen a few derailments in the news for USA. 

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Parrothead
3 minutes ago, John_Galt said:

I havent seen any train derailments in the news here. Only thing have seen recently is people getting hit by the train.

 

Yeah, minor accidents, trains hitting parked rail cars and such. As well as people, and vehicles at crossings.

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John_Galt
6 minutes ago, Parrothead said:

Yeah, minor accidents, trains hitting parked rail cars and such. As well as people, and vehicles at crossings.

 

Hitting parked rail cars should never happen. But the people on the tracks well that is their fault. 

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Parrothead
2 minutes ago, John_Galt said:

Hitting parked rail cars should never happen.

 

Welcome to Cambodia.

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John_Galt

Sit in the back lol 

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