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
Mui Ne is a 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. The easiest way to get to Mui Ne is to get the Saigon to Phan Thiet train, and then […]
Nha Trang to Saigon by train
A review of train SE7 from Nha Trang to Saigon in a four-bed berth (first class sleeper). 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 […]
How to get from Bangkok to Vientiane by train
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. […]
Subway Map of Southeast Asia Railways
A map of current and proposed railways in Southeast Asia styled as a subway map. 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 […]
Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (Penang) by train
A review of the ETS (Electric Train Service) from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (Penang). 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 140 km/h. The ETS is one of the fastest trains in Southeast Asia. […]
Riding the Bamboo Railway in Battambang, Cambodia
A review of the bamboo railway in Battambang before the line was renovated and put back into use for passenger trains. [Edit: There are now passenger trains between Battambang and Phnom Penh, but the bamboo railway is still operating. There is also a new bamboo tourist train. Here is a comparison of the original and […]
Maeklong market railway, Thailand – The train that goes through a market
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 […]
