The new fastest train in Southeast Asia
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The new fastest train in Southeast Asia
October 2023 News: Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway launched, Cambodia rail plans, Trans-Borneo Railway, Train SE22 from Saigon to Danang
Welcome to another Southeast Asia Railways round-up. I haven’t been travelling this month but I have a backlog of trip reports to do. I published an article about the train from Saigon to Danang, including what it is like to sleep in the cabin, and what kind of food to expect.
The big news for this month was the launch of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway. I have picked out some news articles and a trip report for that.
News
🇰🇭 Cambodia
"In a meeting with Wang Jianping, Chairman of the Board of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), Dr. Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, emphasised the direction of the development of the Cambodian railway system to have the capacity to cover the whole country."
🇮🇩 Indonesia
• Indonesia launches Jakarta-Bandung 'Whoosh' high-speed railway
"President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday inaugurated a $7.3 billion high-speed railway connecting Jakarta with the city of Bandung, a China-backed project that has been marred with problems."
Indonesia now has one of the fastest trains in the world, and it’s not even a competition between fastest and second-fastest trains in Southeast Asia.
• Whoosh high-speed train promo fare at Rp300,000, says KCIC
"PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China/Indonesia-China High-speed Train Company (KCIC) has announced a promotional fare of Rp300,000 for the Whoosh high-speed train on all routes, including feeder trains to and from Bandung Station, West Java."
• WHOOSH: Onboard the Jakarta to Bandung High Speed Rail
• Sandiaga Uno backs Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train via southern coastal area
• KAI to launch suite class compartment train soon
🇱🇦 Laos
• Vietnam-Laos joint venture allowed to develop railway project
"A joint venture between Vietnamese infrastructure developer Deo Ca Group JSC and Petroleum Trading Lao Public Company (PetroTrade) has been allowed to develop a railway project linking the two countries."
🇲🇾 Malaysia
• ECRL project has achieved 50.29 pct progress
• Diesel locomotives arrive in Kuantan to assist ECRL construction
• Govt to study proposal for Trans-Borneo Railway, says Loke
"The government will conduct a feasibility study for a proposed railway linking Sabah and Sarawak to Indonesia, says transport minister Loke Siew Fook."
🇲🇲 Myanmar
• China begins surveys for railway on Myanmar’s Indian Ocean
🇵🇭 Philippines
• Philippines turns its back on Chinese loans for 3 railway projects
• FACT CHECK: DOTr not halting Mindanao Railway Project
• PNR’s NCR line to close by January
“The Philippine National Railways (PNR) will cease all of its passenger services in Metro Manila by January 2024 to give way to the civil works for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).”
🇹🇭 Thailand
• SRT seeking budget for rail upgrades
“The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will ask the cabinet to approve the funding for the second phase of double-track upgrades between Khon Kaen and Nong Khai next week, according to Department of Rail Transport director-general Pichet Kunathammarak on Thursday.”
• Feeder link for high-speed rail gets all-clear
”The Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO) has approved a feeder electric train linking with a high-speed rail link between the capital’s airports and U-Tapao airport in the high-speed rail project’s second hearing.”
• Thailand’s great rail journey, all aboard (book launch and panel)
If you are in Bangkok on November 22 then check out this talk with a panel of rail enthusiasts and experts, where Matthew Woodward will launch his new book “Bang Sue Junction.”
The book launch is at The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.
• Guide to “Floating Train Excursion” to Pasak Chonlasit Dam
• Surviving 30 hours on Thailand's 3rd class trains 🇹🇭 (YouTube)
• Thailand's top 6 train journeys, by Austin Bush for Lonely Planet.
• 'Train marshals' take their last ride
“The withdrawal of the "marshals" is prompted by the latest restructuring of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), and their members will be redeployed in other departments within the force under the National Police Act 2022.”
🇻🇳 Vietnam
• Train SE22 from Saigon to Danang
Train SE22 is the Vietnam Railways service that operates from Saigon to Danang. Here is what to expect on this overnight service.
This is my review at Nomadic Notes. Sign up for the Nomadic Notes Travel Newsletter for more travel updates.
• Vietnam to speed up US$59-billion high-speed train project
• Chinese firms express interest in Vietnam’s North-South high-speed rail project
• Which speed for North-South Expressway rail: 250 or 350 km/h?
• More trains to be added on Hanoi – Lao Cai rail route
• Ha Long-Mong Cai railway proposed
• Luxury trains to come on Hanoi-Da Nang link
• Long Bien Bridge preservation a central piece in Red River Zoning plan