Cambodia has two railway lines that operate from Phnom Penh. There is a line from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (Southern Line), and Phnom Penh to Poipet via Battambang (Northern Line).
The railways of Cambodia were established during the French colonial era. The lines fell into disrepair during and after the Khmer Rouge era, and they have since been restored for passenger and freight use. The trains are still slow and don’t run regularly, but they are more comfortable than taking a minivan or bus, and a more memorable travel experience.
Cambodia railways
Map of Cambodia railway lines
Links and how to buy tickets
Cambodia railway lines
Southern Line (Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville)
Northern Line (Phnom Penh-Poipet)
Phnom Penh Airport Train (Closed airport rail service)
Bamboo Railway (Makeshift railway in Battambang)
Frequently asked questions
Map of Cambodia railway lines
[Map of Cambodia railways.]
Links and how to buy tickets
Railway operator: Royal Railway (the royal-railway.com website has expired).
Facebook group: Cambodian Trains and Railways – A group that posts news and timetable updates.
Ticket agent: Baolau
Cambodia railway lines
These are the main railway lines in Cambodia.
Southern Line
The Southern Line operates from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. This is a good way to get to Cambodia’s city-by-the-sea (now known for its casinos). From Sihanoukville, you can get a boat to Koh Rong.
This line also has a stop at Kampot, which is a small riverside city that has become popular with expats. There is one train in each direction, but it is best to check the Facebook site for updated times.
My review of the current train service: The Japanese train in Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville on the KiHa train from Hokkaido
My review of the old train service: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by train.
Buy Phnom-Penh – Sihanoukville train tickets.
Northern Line
[Battambang Station]
The Northern Line is a daily service that operates from Phnom Penh to Poipoet. This train is most useful for getting to Battambang.
The Northern Line terminates at Poipet on the Cambodia-Thailand border. The line has now been connected to Thailand, so it’s now a matter of waiting for the government to approve international train services.
Review: Battambang to Phnom Penh by train.
Phnom Penh Airport Train
The Phnom Penh Airport Train was a service that ran from Phnom Penh Station to Phnom Penh International Airport. The service began in April 2018 and was shut down in 2020 due to low passenger numbers and travel restrictions due to the pandemic.
There is a new airport being built that will replace Phnom Penh International Airport as the main airport, so it is unlikely to run again.
Bamboo Railway
This “railway” is made up of a bamboo platform and motor that sits on lightweight wheels that can be easily removed by two people. The railway was originally a means for people living along the line to transport goods.
I reviewed the Bamboo Railway in Battambang in 2016 before the line was rehabilitated. The bamboo railway is still operated, but the is also a tourist train that was supposed to replace it. Here is my comparison of the original and new bamboo trains.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
There is no train from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and there never has been one. The government occasionally mentions that it’s considering building a train to Siem Reap, but don’t wait for it to happen.
Is there a train from Phnom Penh to Bangkok?
There is no train from Phnom Penh to Bangkok, though there might be one once the two countries agree on international border crossing procedures. A more likely scenario would be that Thailand runs a train from Bangkok to Poipet, and then passengers transfer to a Cambodia Railways service to Phnom Penh. Read more about future railways in Cambodia.
Is there a train from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City?
There has never been a train line between Phnom Penh and Saigon, even though they were two cities under the control of French colonialists. There have been talks to build a line, but for now you will have to get the bus. Read more about the proposed Phnom Penh – Ho Chi Minh City Railway.
Disclaimer
– Check the official railway site for updated train service information.
– Nomadic Notes is an affiliate of Baolau.
This is part of the Nomadic Notes train travel series.
It is hard to believe that they spent all that money on rebuilding the lines in the 21st century and trains can only average around 30kph even it freight was the primary objective
Still haven’t even managed despite much fanfare to run a proper international service cross border with Thailand let alone Bangkok to PP.
Now we are hearing that they want to build high speed lines ( not sure how they are defining high speed)
Yes it’s crazy. I am reminded of one of the early JICA reports for the Vietnam North-South railway where they came to the conclusion that it would be cheaper to build a new railway than to try and refurbish the old one. That seems logical, but at least there was a report to back this up. Maybe they though it was going to be an easy fix, and then the next thing you know they are up to their neck in spending money on a line that should have just been rebuilt.
The new lines have been quoted as 160km/h, so semi-high-speed and a very sensible speed for Camboida (like in Laos). It will probably get built now if Cambodia is as pliant as Laos, so there will be a shiny new railway from border-to-border, with Thailand’s crappy metre-gauge at one end, and no railway at the Vietnam end.