A guide to train travel in Cambodia, including line details, maps, how to buy tickets, and frequently asked questions.
Cambodia has two railway lines that operate from Phnom Penh:
– Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (Southern Line)
– Phnom Penh to Poipet (Northern Line)
[Phnom Penh Station]
Cambodia train travel guide
Websites and tickets
Map of Cambodia railway lines
Cambodia railway lines
Southern Line (Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville)
Northern Line (Phnom Penh-Poipet)
Phnom Penh Airport Train (Closed airport rail service)
Bamboo Railway (Makeshift railway in Battambang)
Frequently asked questions
Websites and tickets
Railway operator: Royal Railway. The official websites (royal-railway.com and royal-railway.com.kh websites) have expired. Royal Railways posts service updates on their Facebook page @TRRCambodia.
Royal Railway sell tickets online at royalrailway.easybook.com, and tickets are also sold at the stations.
Ticket agent: Baolau is a regional ticket agent offering train tickets in Cambodia. This site is easy to use and you can also compare bus tickets for the same journey.
Facebook group: Cambodian Trains and Railways – A group that posts news and timetable updates. This is a useful forum for travel questions.
Map of Cambodia railway lines
[Map of Cambodia railways.]
Cambodia railway lines
Southern Line
Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville
Train: PP-SVH
Departure: 07:00
Arrival: 12:40
Travel Time: 5h 40m
Tickets: Buy Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville train tickets
My review of the current train service: The Japanese train in Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville on the KiHa train from Hokkaido
My review of the old train service: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by train.
Sihanoukville-Phnom Penh
Train: SVH-PP
Departure: 14:00
Arrival: 20:00
Travel Time: 6h
Tickets: Buy Sihanoukville-Phnom Penh train tickets
Northern Line
The Northern Line is a daily service that operates from Phnom Penh to Battambang. This train is currently not running from Battambang to Poipet.
Phnom Penh-Battambang
Train: PP-SVH
Departure: 07:00
Arrival: 12:40
Travel Time: 5h 40m
Tickets: Buy Phnom Penh-Battambang train tickets
Battambang-Phnom Penh
Train: PP-SVH
Departure: 15:00
Arrival: 21:30
Travel Time: 6h 30m
Tickets: Buy Battambang-Phnom Penh train tickets
My review of the Battambang to Phnom Penh train.
Phnom Penh Airport Train
The Phnom Penh Airport Train was a service that ran from Phnom Penh Station to Phnom Penh International Airport. The service began in April 2018 and was shut down in 2020 due to low passenger numbers and travel restrictions due to the pandemic.
There is a new airport being built that will replace Phnom Penh International Airport, and there are plans to build an airport rail link to the new airport.
Bamboo Railway
This “railway” is made up of a bamboo platform and motor that sits on lightweight wheels that can be easily removed by two people. The railway was originally a means for people living along the line to transport goods.
I reviewed the Bamboo Railway in Battambang in 2016 before the line was rehabilitated. The bamboo railway is still operating, but there is also a tourist train that was supposed to replace it. Here is my comparison of the original and new bamboo trains.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
There is no train from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and there never has been one. The government occasionally mentions that it’s considering building a train to Siem Reap, but don’t wait for it to happen.
Is there a train from Phnom Penh to Bangkok?
There is no train from Phnom Penh to Bangkok, though there might be one once the two countries agree on international border crossing procedures. A more likely scenario would be that Thailand runs a train from Bangkok to Poipet, and then passengers transfer to a Cambodia Railways service to Phnom Penh. Read more about future railways in Cambodia.
Is there a train from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City?
There has never been a train line between Phnom Penh and Saigon, even though they were two cities under the control of French colonialists. There have been talks to build a line, but for now you will have to get the bus. Read more about the proposed Phnom Penh – Ho Chi Minh City Railway.
Disclaimer
southeastasiarailways.com is an affiliate of Baolau.
