The Da Lat – Trai Mat Railway is a restored section of the former Da Lat–Thap Cham railway. The original railway connected Da Lat to the main North-South railway of Vietnam. Da Lat became a popular place to escape the tropical heat and enjoy the cool mountain air. Like the hill stations of India, a […]
Palembang to Bandar Lampung by train – riding the coal-subsidised railway of South Sumatra
Sumatra is the sixth-largest island in the world with a population of over 50 million people, yet there are only a few railway lines on the island. There are plans to unite the current lines to form a trans-Sumatran railway that would travel from Medan to Bandar Lampung. This is a distance of over 1750 […]
Laos Railways: a guide to train travel in Laos
A guide for the railways of Laos, including domestic and international railway, and planned railways in the future. Laos Railways Laos railways maps Domestic railways Vientiane-Boten International railways Vientiane-Kunming Vientiane-Bangkok Vientiane-Nong Khai Discontinued railways Thanaleng-Nong Khai Future railways Bangkok-Vientiane High-Speed Railway Vientiane-Vung Ang Laos railways maps Map of Laos Railway Map of Lao-China Railway – […]
Hanoi to Haiphong by train
The Hanoi-Haiphong railway is one of the few railway lines in Vietnam that is not part of the main north-south railway. Originally this line was part of the Yunnan-Haiphong Railway that was built by France between 1904–1910. Haiphong is the closest seaport to Hanoi so it’s always been an important access point for Hanoi. Haiphong […]
Jungle Railway in Malaysia – The best train times and most scenic sections
The Jungle Railway The Jungle Railway is one of the great train journeys of Southeast Asia, spanning the length of Peninsula Malaysia through its rugged interior. Officially known as the East Coast Railway Line (ECRL), the Jungle Railway travels from Johor Bahru near the Singapore-Malaysia border in the south, to Tumpat near the Thailand border […]
Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok – Getting the train in the troubled deep south of Thailand
As a frequent traveller to Thailand I’m familiar with the troubles of the deep south of Thailand, where many countries have advisories to not travel there. As part of my Southeast Asia railway project I took a train through the southern provinces. This is my trip report and what to expect. What this isn’t is […]
Bangkok to Trang by train, and onward connections to the Trang Islands
Getting the train from Bangkok to Trang in Southern Thailand is a convenient overland way to get to the Trang Islands. Sleeper trains depart Bangkok every evening, arriving in Trang at a reasonable hour in the morning. From the train station, you can then get minivans to the pier for boats to the islands. There […]
Bang Sue Grand Station construction update – The future central station of Bangkok
Bang Sue Grand Station is the future central station of Bangkok, replacing Hua Lamphong as Thailand’s railway hub. If you’ve caught a train to or from Bangkok recently you might have noticed this as you passed through Bang Sue station. Indeed, it’s hard not to miss as it’s the biggest construction site in Thailand. The […]
Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train – best train times to see some of the highlights of Thailand
The train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is a great way to see more of Thailand, but depending on your travels it’s not always the best way. With some planning by picking the right trains, you can save money and see some of the highlights of Thailand. Bangkok to Chiang Mai – train, bus, or […]
Hong Kong West Kowloon – The railway station of the Hong Kong – Beijing high-speed railway
The Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is the terminus of the Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed railway. With the opening of the station in September 2018, it’s now possible to travel from Hong Kong to Beijing in one train trip. Construction began in 2011, which is about the same time that I became a regular visitor to […]
