The Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Main Line originally traversed South Luzon from Manila to Legazpi. The line was approximately 500 km in length, but the system has been reduced to two fragmented sections. The current lines are used as commuter services and are not useful for tourism. If you are a train enthusiast who […]
Nanning to Hong Kong by train
My review of the Nanning to Hong Kong high-speed railway service. Nanning is the capital of Guangxi region in southern China. The region is next to the Vietnam border, and its proximity to Hanoi makes it a useful hub if you are overlanding to other points in China. There are direct services from Nanning to […]
Hanoi to Nanning by train
A review of the overnight sleeper train service from Hanoi (Vietnam) to Nanning (China). The Hanoi to Nanning train is the only international service from Vietnam, and one of the few international train services in Southeast Asia. There is also a Hanoi to Beijing train that is a continuation of the Nanning service. For this […]
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by train
Getting the train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore involves two separate train journeys. Here are the trains to book and how to buy the tickets. There used to be a direct train service from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but that service was discontinued in 2011. The rail corridor in Singapore has been turned into a […]
How to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train
There is no direct train service from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, so this guide shows how to make the journey by two different trains. Getting the train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur used to be a straightforward affair. The train would leave Tanjong Pagar railway station (near downtown Singapore), clear immigration for both countries at […]
The bamboo railways in Battambang: Comparing the original and new bamboo trains
A guide for the original bamboo railway in Battambang and the new bamboo tourist train in Banon. The bamboo railway in Battambang is a lightweight trolley (known as a norry) that was originally used to transport goods and passengers along the old railway. This makeshift trolley railway served a functional purpose when there was no […]
The Japanese train in Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville on the KiHa train from Hokkaido
A review of the Japanese KiHa 183 series train that operates between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. In 2024 the Royal Railway of Cambodia acquired 11 KiHa 183 series train carriages from JR Hokkaido in Japan. The trains were converted from 1067mm gauge to metre gauge, and a test service began on the Phnom Penh to […]
Battambang to Phnom Penh by train
Battambang is on the Northern Line that operates between Poipet and Phnom Penh. Here is what to expect on the train from Battambang to Phnom Penh. Battambang – Phnom Penh train details The Northern Line is the train line from Phnom Penh to Poipet (on the Cambodia-Thailand border). There is usually one train per day […]
Train No. 275: Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border (train to the Thailand-Cambodia border)
The Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border train service goes from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) to the Thailand-Cambodia border in Aranyaprathet. There are two trains a day in each direction, but the early morning service (Train No. 275) is the best if you are planning onward connections in Cambodia. Train number: 275 Service: Ordinary […]
Padang Besar Station: crossing the Malaysia-Thailand border by train
A guide to the Padang Besar Railway Station border crossing between Malaysia and Thailand. Padang Besar is an international railway station in Malaysia on the Thailand border. There is also a separate Padang Besar station in Thailand in Tambon Padangbesa. If you are getting the train between Thailand and Malaysia, you will be going through […]
