Phnom Penh-Poipet train service launch unclear

No launch date has been decided on a passenger train service between Phnom Penh and Poipet city, which sits near the Thai border province of Sa Kaeo, as the government continue talks with concession-granted company Royal Railway on the service in the Cambodian side that would facilitate cross-border connection of railway services between the Kingdom and Thailand.

Vasim Sorya, Ministry of Public Works and Transports spokesman, said train services between Phnom Penh and Poipet city has not yet started operating, however, he noted that the government has been pushing for the launch of the passengers train service with the train company.

“Now, we are still in negotiation talks,” Mr Sorya said. “The ministry has established a committee to check the concessional contract because the Royal Railway already has a contract [to operate freight services], and we are preparing a new contract [for passenger services], so it’s not yet operating.”

In the entity contract, the Royal Railway operates only freight train services and it needs to negotiate for passenger train service, according to Mr Sorya.

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