The Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen has confirmed that Cambodia will examine the possibility of developing existing railways into high-speed railways and expanding railway connections to other potential provinces to reduce traffic accidents and increase transportation capacity.
The new railway, which is planned to be built is to connect the existing railway in Poipet to Siem Reap to Kampong Thom and to Phnom Penh. At the same time, there is also a planned railway connection from Phnom Penh to Bavet, Svay Rieng province, Cambodia-Vietnam border.
The assertion of Mr Hun Sen was made at the Plenary Meeting of the Council of Ministers yesterday.
Mr Hun Sen was quoted as saying, “The Royal Government of Cambodia will examine the feasibility to develop the existing Cambodian railway to become a high-speed railway, especially connecting Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and the direction from Phnom Penh to Poipet and add a new railway line from Poipet to Siem Reap to Kampong Thom and Phnom Penh and a railway line connecting Phnom Penh to Bavet on the Vietnamese border to reduce traffic congestion and increase transportation capacity to contribute to socio-economic development.
Cambodia’s railway has two lines, the first line south of Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville is 266 km long and the second line north of Phnom Penh to Poipet is 386 km long.