The long-awaited railroad between Phnom Penh and Bangkok moved one step closer to completion yesterday after tracks on the Cambodian side were connected to those in Thailand.

The Poipet-Phnom Penh rail line was joined to the Bangkok-Sa Kaeo line during a ceremony at the international border checkpoint, said Sun Chanthol, minister of public works and transportation.

“Now we have connected our railway with Thailand’s railway and we will continue to renovate our railway as soon as possible in order to open the line between Cambodia and Thailand at the end of this year or early next year,” he said.

Chanthol said the Phnom Penh-Poipet railway was badly damaged during the civil war and has remained unused for many years. He said Thailand had paid around $1 million to build a bridge over the river that marks the border, while Malaysia has also given financial aid to help construct the railway.

“When the railway is officially opened, I hope that Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will travel together by rail across the bridge,” Chanthol said.