Current and proposed railways of Southeast Asia – every line mapped In 2016 I compiled every current and proposed railway in Southeast Asia and created the Future Southeast Asia Railway Map, which depicted all current and proposed railways as a subway map. [Future Southeast Asia Railway Map – 2016 version (Click for larger image).] I’ve […]
Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin by train (with a bonus stop at the tallest stupa in the world)
August 3, 2017 By 4 Comments
Kanchanaburi is west of Bangkok on the Nam Tok railway line, separate from the main north and south lines. This line formed what was part of the Death Railway, which connected Thailand to Burma by rail. There has been proposals to connect Thailand and Myanmar by rail via this route, but for now it remains […]
Saigon to Phan Thiet by train – the easy way to get to Mui Ne
May 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Mui Ne is the popular beach resort area in Southeastern Vietnam. The actual beach area is between the towns of Phan Thiet and Mui Ne, though most people just say Mui Ne for the general area. Even though Phan Thiet is about 200km east of Ho Chi Minh City, it takes anywhere from 4-6 hours […]
Nha Trang to Saigon by train
January 13, 2017 By 11 Comments
Vietnam by train is a great way to travel if you are making your way up or down the coast. While I wouldn’t traverse the whole length of the country in one go (especially when flights between Hanoi and Saigon are so competitive) it’s good for the stops in between. Trains in Vietnam follow a […]
How to get from Bangkok to Vientiane by train
December 12, 2016 By 23 Comments
I like to travel by train in Southeast Asia if it’s a reasonable alternative to flying. For the trip from Bangkok to Vientiane, getting the train is a comfortable and economic way to go. First off I will say that the train doesn’t actually go to Vientiane; it stops at a station about 16km away. […]
Future Southeast Asia – A map of proposed railways in Southeast Asia
October 24, 2016 By 25 Comments
What would Southeast Asia look like if it had a fully functioning railway network? I have thought about this many times, usually while on a bus ride from hell (Huay Xai to Luang Prabang springs to mind). I envision it to be a cross between China’s high-speed rail network and Europe’s international InterCity services. With […]
Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (Penang) with the ETS – the fastest train in Southeast Asia
April 27, 2016 By 21 Comments
In 2015 the electrification of the train line between Kuala Lumpur and Butterworth was completed. On this modernised track the ETS (Electric Train Service) reaches a speed of 160kmh. The ETS is the fastest intercity train in Southeast Asia, and is tied at equal first with two airport trains (Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur). The Bangkok […]
Riding the Bamboo Railway in Battambang – Cambodia
March 16, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The bamboo railway is a makeshift railway in Cambodia that uses the old single line that runs between Battambang and Phnom Penh. In what was initially a way for goods to be transported has now become a fully-fledged tourist trap attraction. At the time of my visit I only saw foreign passengers on board and […]
Maeklong market railway, Thailand – The train that goes through a market
March 20, 2010 By 43 Comments
One of the more interesting train journeys in Southeast Asia I’ve had is riding through the Maeklong market railway in Thailand. Even if you’ve never heard of the town, you’ve probably seen a youtube video of a train going through a tightly-packed market, where market stalls are set up on the rails. The train barely […]
