Thailand, Cambodia ready to relaunch rail link

A diesel-powered passenger train (right) is seen at Aranyaprathet station in Sa Kaeo in preparation for the inaugural journey to Poipet, Cambodia on Monday. (Photo by Udomdet Kampat via @pr.railway Facebook account)

Thailand looks set to re-establish a rail link with Cambodia 45 years after the two countries terminated cross-border train service.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen will preside over a ceremony to reopen the track connecting Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo with Cambodia's Poipet town on Monday.

The two leaders will meet at Ban Klong Luk Border station at the Thai border and ride a historic train for two kilometres across the border to Poipet. They will be riding in one of four passenger carriages that Thailand has refurbished and will deliver to Cambodia as a goodwill gesture after the event.

The diesel-powered train was parked at Aranyaprathet station on Wednesday in preparation for the inaugural journey.

Regular service, however, will not begin until the two countries settle on the schedule and other details. That is expected to be completed by the end of the year, acting State Railway of Thailand governor Worawut Mala said.

On Wednesday approved the agreement on freight and passenger regulations on the cross-border operations.

The track from the Thai-Cambodia border goes to Phnom Penh.

Thailand and Cambodia ended their last rail connection 45 years ago due to internal conflicts in the two neighbouring countries. Cambodia restored the 385- kilometre track from the capital to the border with Thailand, and resumed operations last year.

Sa Kaeo governor Wichit Chartpaisit said on Wednesday the train line will boost border trade and transport between the two countries.

ฺBorder trade between the two countries was 145 billion baht last year, 62% of if going through the border between Aranyaprathet and Poipet, according to the Foreign Trade Department.

The Thai Trade Promotion Office in Siem Reap expects the train will also boost tourism as the track will draw visitors curious about the new link.

The Thai and Cambodian leaders will open a new bridge linking Ban Nong Ian in Aranyaprathet and Stung Bot in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province before travelling to open the train line.

Deputy government spokesman Lt Gen Werachon Sukondhapatipak said on Sundaythe new bridge and train link reflected the pledges of the two countries to foster border cooperation.