MPWT and Royal Railway Sign Agreement to Enhance Railway Infrastructure

On 13 February 2025, The Royal Government of Cambodia, represented by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and Royal Railway Company Limited signed a Framework Agreement on the Railway Project. This agreement aims to enhance Cambodia’s railway infrastructure, making it more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.

Speaking at the event, H.E Peng Pornea, Minister of Public Works and Transport emphasised that this agreement marks a significant step towards establishing a new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, following the high-level directive of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

On this occasion, He also directed the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Negotiating the Railway Concession Agreement and Royal Railway Company to continue their strong collaboration in finalising the new Public-Private Partnership Agreement. He further urged them to identify strategic partners with expertise, knowledge, and experience in railway development to ensure a more efficient and advanced railway system, in line with the Royal Government’s long-term vision.

Minister Peng Purna also highlighted the Comprehensive Master Plan on the Intermodal Transport and Logistics System of Cambodia 2023-2033, which projects that rail passenger traffic will reach approximately 1.5 million passengers per year, while freight transport is expected to handle around 8 million tonnes annually. These projections account for the planned "Phnom Penh-Bavet railway line", which set for development by 2030.

Furthermore, by 2030, major transport hubs such as Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk, Siem Reap, Battambang, Bavet, and Poipet are expected to experience significant traffic flows across multiple transport modes, including road, rail, river, sea, and air.

It should be mentioned that, Phnom Penh-Bavet Railway starts from Phnom Penh and turns southeast through the New Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, continues east along National Road 1, passing through Kandal, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng provinces, and ends at the Bavet international border gates (Cambodia-Vietnam border). The railway project has a total length of 150 kilometers, focusing on the transport of goods and passengers. 

This high-speed railway project has a designed passenger speed at 160 kilometers per hour and the freight speed is 80 kilometers per hour, with an estimated investment of 800 million dollars.