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There is only one train line in Cambodia, maintained by the Chemins de Fer du Royaume du Cambodge. It goes from Sihanoukville (Kampong Saom) on the coast via Phnom Penh, Batdambang and Sisophon to Bangkok.
The rolling stock is prehistoric and trains dawdle past the somewhat uniform scenery at a comfortable speed. Since fares are really cheap, trains tend to be overcrowded. For the time being and probably quite a few years to come, it is still possible to sit on the roof from where one enjoys a dangerous, yet great view over the surroundings (and also has to be very careful with regard to sunstrokes).
Before embarking on a train journey in a country like Cambodia, consider first if this method of transport is suitable for you. Going by train is much like travelling by bus minus the shaking and bouncing over bad roads. Thus, instead of gripping on for their life, passengers have leisure to talk and enjoy picnics and you may expect them to be very interested in you.
Since Cambodians are usually soft-spoken and very friendly, the hours spent on the train may pass much too quickly for extroverted travellers. Should you be a reticent, shy person on the other hand, you might feel exposed and ill at ease. And of course, every nation has its share of thoroughly annoying characters almost impossible to shake off...
In addition, there is the safety aspect. Tourists have been advised to abstain from train journeys through Cambodia for decades because of the danger of all kinds of attacks (hold ups, minings, etc.) and the generally poor conditions of rolling stock and tracks. Although the situation has somewhat changed, the fact still remains that if something happens on a train, you have nowhere to run.
| Should you consider to travel by railroad, please also refer to the general information on our transport page. |