The government is looking into the possibility of upgrading the existing train routes from Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk and Phnom Penh to Poipet town into express railways.

In the Council of Ministers’ press statement about the results of their meeting on December 16, they said the construction of an express railway was to increase transportation capacity and contribute to socio-economic development while reducing traffic congestion.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia will look into the possibility of upgrading the construction of the existing railways to make them express railways, especially the connection from Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk province and from Phnom Penh to Poipet,” Prime Minister Hun Sen is quoted as saying in the press release.

According to the Council of Ministers, Hun Sen also said that a new railway from Poipet to Siem Reap could also be constructed. That railway will then also eventually be extended to Kampong Thom and to Phnom Penh.

Another railway is also to be constructed from Phnom Penh to Bavet town at the border with Vietnam in Svay Rieng province.