The public ferry operating on Tonle Sap and Tonle Bassac rivers between Phnom Penh and Takhmao town will continue to be a free service until the end of 2018, with a decision yet to be made on 2019, a Phnom Penh city spokesperson confirmed.

“The free service for the ferry will continue up to the end of the year. The municipal will then make a decision on whether to continue to provide the free service or not for next year,” Meth Meas Pheakdey said.

The free public ferry operates between 6am and 6pm along the Tonle Sap and Tonle Bassac rivers, making four stops in Phnom Penh, with the final stop in Kandal province’s Takhmao town.

Undisclosed ticket prices

The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation has not yet disclosed how much the service will cost when it is ticketed.

Since it began operating in April, the ferry has serviced an average of 100 passengers daily, with these numbers expected to gradually increase, Meas Pheakdey said.

“Passengers keep increasing, and we believe demand for the ferry will continue to grow among the public going forward as people become more aware of its operation,” he said.

The ferry is among a host of new public transportation initiatives launched in Cambodia this year, as the Kingdom’s government makes a push to expand public transit options in the capital.

In April, Royal Railways launched a new rail service linking Phnom Penh International Airport to Phnom Penh train station.