After years of neglect, the railways in Cambodia are receiving some much needed investment, and now offer travellers a couple of handy daily services to and from Phnom Penh
The fortunes of the railway network in Cambodia have closely matched those of the country as a whole. Long neglected and ravaged by the effects of war, for a time it seemed as if the country’s railways would disappear. Thankfully (for locals and tourists alike), the first green shoots have appeared in recent years and the network is starting to improve and expand.
Although the number and frequency of services is still low compared to many other Southeast Asian countries, the railways are receiving some much needed investment, highlighted by the recent purchase of modern carriages from Japan. With ambitious plans for high-speed rail in the future, it feels like the Cambodian railways are finally seen as a key part of the country’s infrastructure.
If you’re travelling to or from Phnom Penh, the two daily services are convenient and affordable options to explore the rest of the beautiful country.
Main train routes in Cambodia
The two main train routes in Cambodia are the Southern Line and Northern Line, both run by Royal Railways.
Southern Line
The Southern Line has only one service per day: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville via Kep and Kampot with the following departure times:
- Phnom Penh: 7.00am
- Kampot: 10:40am
- Sihanoukville: 12:40pm
The train then turns around at Sihanoukville and makes its way back to Phnom Penh:
- Sihanoukville: 2.00pm
- Kampot: 4.00pm
- Phnom Penh: 8.00pm
Northern Line
The Northern Line also departs and terminates in Phnom Penh, with a daily service to Battambang:
- Phnom Penh: 6.40am
- Battambang: 1.00pm
The train then turns around at Battambang and makes its way back to Phnom Penh:
- Battambang: 3.00pm
- Phnom Penh: 9.30pm
What are the Cambodia trains like?
On the Phnom Penh to Battambang services, you’re likely to be see older-style carriages with hard (but padded seats), open windows, no air-conditioning, but huge amounts of ambience and atmosphere. As the train pulls out of Phnom Penh station in the early morning, the driver will constantly sound the horn to alert nearby residents to its progress.
Don’t expect a wide choice of food onboard, it’s best to bring your own snacks and drinks if possible, although the train does stop for several minutes at Pursat (about three hours into the journey) where you can alight and buy hot meals and drinks, all for reasonable prices.
The trains down to Sihanoukville now use modern, comfortable carriages purchased from Japan. The older style Mexican railcar, with its quirky seating layout, is now likely to be a thing of the past. This is no doubt an improvement, although the newer trains do lack some of the romance of the original version.
How to buy Cambodia train tickets
All stations can sell you tickets, but it’s usually easier to book online using Baolau, where you can check routes, availability and buy tickets.
FAQs
Tickets can be booked 30 days in advance.
Yes, tickets can be booked using the Baolau or official site.
No, seats cannot be reserved when booking a Cambodian train, although they are rarely full.