Wedoany.com Report on Mar 17th, Cambodia's railway system faces challenges of speed limitations and low passenger volume but is driving development through new projects. In 2025, railway passengers are estimated at 400,000, far below the over 20 million passengers transported by buses and taxis and approximately 7 million air travelers. The system has two main lines: the Southern Line connects Phnom Penh, Takeo, Kep, Kampot, and Sihanoukville, primarily serving tourists; the Northern Line runs from Phnom Penh through Romese, Bonna, Pursat, and Moung Ruessei to Battambang, and once extended to Poipet.

Train travel offers comfortable seating and air-conditioned carriages with relatively low fares, such as $8 from Phnom Penh to Battambang and $10 to Sihanoukville. However, long travel times are a major issue: Royal Railway promotes the Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville route as taking 6.5 hours, while buses take only 3 hours. Speeds are limited to 40-50 km/h due to poor track conditions, lack of fencing, and manually operated railway crossings that often cause delays. Operating only one train per day also limits usage.

Railway development could bring opportunities to remote areas. For example, Takeo Province is accessible by train from Phnom Penh in less than two hours, which is convenient for tourists. After decades of decline, Cambodia is utilizing foreign funding to revive its railway network, with Chinese funds supporting restoration in the late 2010s. The 612-km system is operated by Royal Railway Cambodia. In 2023, Cambodia launched the "Integrated Master Plan for Multimodal Transport and Logistics System 2023-2033," prioritizing railways and planning for high-speed lines with speeds of 160 km/h, aiming for 1.5 million passengers by the end of the decade. The Phnom Penh to Poipet high-speed railway project, estimated to cost $4 billion, aims to accelerate freight transport.

In 2024, railway freight volume was 1.16 million tons, an 8.29% increase from 2023, but it only accounted for 7% of Cambodia's total cargo transport. Cambodia is committed to connecting with the Thai and Vietnamese systems. The Phnom Penh to Poipet line was connected to Thailand in 2019 but currently terminates at Battambang due to conflict, while connection with Vietnam is still underway. There are currently three railway projects: connecting Techo International Airport to Phnom Penh and the Cambodian network, a high-speed line from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, and a small train between Siem Reap Airport and Siem Reap. These initiatives aim to enhance railway capacity and strengthen connectivity with the Southeast Asian network.