News

Indonesia

• President Prabowo calls for railway infra development outside of Java [Antara News]

• Prabowo keen to expand Whoosh high-speed train to East Java’s Banyuwangi [Tempo]

• Is Indonesia planning a Java-Bali high-speed railway? [Future Southeast Asia]

• Problematic options in settling Whoosh debt [Tempo]
“Two years into operation, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project—marketed as Whoosh and hailed as a breakthrough in public transportation under President Joko Widodo—has instead remained a persistent drag on the financial performance of its shareholders.”

• Plan for new Jakarta-Bandung fast train raises questions over Whoosh (archive) [The Jakarta Post]
“The envisioned Kilat Pajajaran railway project threatens to cut into the market for the existing high-speed Whoosh service connecting the same two cities.”

• PT KAI rushes to repair flood-hit rail lines in Northern Sumatra [Antara News]

Laos

• Laos-China Railway marks fourth anniversary with record growth [The Laotian Times]

• Laos, Vietnam agree to forge ahead with transport projects [Vientiane Times]

“The governments of Laos and Vietnam have agreed to speed up joint ventures that will boost regional connectivity and economic growth, especially the Vientiane-Hanoi expressway, the Laos-Vietnam railway, and the Vung Ang seaport.”

• Chinese trains, tourists and money are flooding Laos. Locals wonder if it makes sense [The Straits Times]

Malaysia

• ETS to connect Johor Baru, Kuala Lumpur starting Dec 12 [The Star]

• Everything we know about the electric train service that will connect Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur soon [Lifestyle Asia]

• ECRL project hits 89% completion as of October 2025 [The Star]

“With preparations now shifting to the testing and commissioning phase which is expected to begin in mid-2026, the project is anticipated to commence operations from Kota Bharu to the Gombak Integrated Terminal by January 2027.”

• First ECRL trains to arrive in Kuantan by December end [The Sun]

• Butterworth KTM station to undergo RM30mil upgrade, says Loke [FMT]

• KTMB cancels MySawasdee trains between KL and Hat Yai for December amid flood damage inspections [Malay Mail]

• Preliminary railway alignment proposed for Trans-Borneo Railway project, says Sarawak Deputy Transport Minister [The Star]

Myanmar

• Junta sets up committee to expedite China-backed Muse-Mandalay Railway [The Irrawaddy]

• Goteik Viaduct renovated and tested with train carrying 209 tons of cargo [Eleven Myanmar]

• Naypyidaw-Mandalay airbag train starts running with battery-electric locomotive [OneNews Channel Myanmar]

• Myanmar’s NEW Spanish built CAF trains (DEMU) – A journey from Yangon to Pyinmana! [Travelsbymiika YouTube]

Philippines

• DOTr begins right-of-way acquisition for Mindanao Railway [Philippine News Agency]

• COA flags DOTr over delays in P175-B South Long-Haul Railway Project [Manila Bulletin]

• PNR suspends CamSur-Albay operations due to typhoon-damaged tracks [Inquirer]

Singapore

• KL-Sg HSR still on the cards for Singapore, but with ‘shift in focus’ [The Borneo Post]

• Singaporean tourists to benefit from Johor Bahru-Kuala Lumpur Electric Train Service [Tempo]

Thailand

• Thailand expands northern rail network with record-breaking elevated section [Pattaya Mail]

“Say hello to Lopburi 2 Station, the latest addition to Thailand’s modern railway network! Officially opened on 5 December 2025, this brand-new elevated station in Tha Wung District, Lopburi is part of the double-track railway project — making train travel faster, safer, and more scenic for all.”

• Third tunnel on new line in North nearing completion [Bangkok Post]

“Work on the Song Tunnel, which lies on the new railway line currently under construction between Den Chai in Phrae and Chiang Khong at the Lao border, is about 90% complete, according to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).”

• Double-track Southern Line opens fully between Hua Hin and Prachuap [Hua Hin Today]

• State railway ready to move on with dual-track work [Bangkok Post]

“The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is ready to move forward with three more routes under Phase 2 of the double-track railway project, which will see the line from Chumphon to Padang Besar near the border with Malaysia upgraded to dual tracks.”

• Panel defends changes to airport high-speed rail deal [Bangkok Post]

“The Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee has defended its plan to amend the contract for the high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-tapao airports, saying the move is critical to keep the flagship infrastructure project alive amid shifting economic realities.”

• Flash floods damage southern railway, SRT suspends services temporarily [The Nation]

• A new classic is born: The Blue Jasmine train begins its nine day prestigious journey across Thailand [TravelDailyNews]

• All aboard Thailand’s iconic ‘floating train’ [Lifestyle Asia]

• Hidden in plain sight: Thailand’s lost railway station remains frozen in time! [YouTube]
YouTuber Edd Pai Tiew visits Songkhla Station.

Vietnam

• North–South trains remain out of service due to railway damage after floods [SGGP]

• Government seeks lawmakers’ approval for private investment in North-South high-speed rail [VnExpress]

• Vietnam’s most ambitious US$67 billion North-South high-speed railway faces funding conundrum [The Business Times]
“Whether private firms can play a role in easing the state’s financial burden for this large-scale project remains uncertain.”

• Haiphong accelerates land clearance for Lao Cai–Hanoi–Haiphong railway project [The Saigon Times]

• Vietnam rolls out 13-car high-quality train for Hanoi-Da Nang route [VietnamPlus]

• Train Review: [SP8] Lao Cai to Hanoi [Rail Vietnam]
“A review of the daytime train service from Lao Cai to Hanoi.”

• Old Dong Ha Station [Rail Vietnam]

Hello from Sapa in the mountains of Northwest Vietnam. I got the bus here from Hanoi, which seems like a weird thing to admit on a rail site, but there is a method to my madness. There is a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, and from there passengers get a bus to Sapa. This is a very popular trip and it sells out in advance, but I was able to get a ticket for the return journey.

I am in Vietnam to collate information for a new site I have just launched – Rail Vietnam. I started my trip in Da Nang and went to Hue, Dong Ha, Vinh, and Nam Dinh. I was set to complete the journey to Hanoi but the train was cancelled due to the big floods in Central Vietnam. This experience has least given me some insight on what happens when your train is cancelled, so I will write about that.

I announced the new rail site on Nomadic Notes, and you can read more about the project here:

Rail Vietnam – An independent guide to train travel in Vietnam

News

Indonesia

• Indonesia’s Whoosh high-speed rail tops 12 mln passengers: KCIC [Antara News]
“Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail, known as Whoosh, has carried more than 12 million passengers since it began commercial operations two years ago, operator PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) said”.

• High-speed rail debt poses first test for Indonesia’s Danantara (archive) [Bloomberg]
“The sovereign wealth fund will lead negotiations for the debt restructuring of Whoosh, the country’s first high-speed rail.”

• High-speed rail debt must not delay Jakarta-Surabaya expansion: AHY [Antara News]

• Smoke-free trains on the way! Indonesia speeds up railway electrification [Expat Life in Indonesia]
“The Indonesian government is moving swiftly to advance railway electrification across the country, marking a major push toward a more efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable national transportation system.”

Laos

• Laos-China Railway transported over 15 million passengers since early 2025 [The Laotian Times]
“Cross-border travel totaled nearly 200,000 passengers, up 3.17 percent year-on-year, state media reported. The Lao section has served over 2.6 million passengers so far this year.”

Malaysia

• Pasir Mas-Rantau Panjang railway upgrade to begin next year – Loke [Bernama]
“Loke said the initiative aimed to reactivate the line for passenger and cargo train services, thereby enhancing Malaysia-Thailand cross-border rail connectivity through the link to Sungai Golok, Thailand.”

• Gemas-Johor Bahru EDTP: The upgrade that will move millions of Malaysians [Malaysiakini]

• Malaysia yet to decide on development model for KL–Singapore High-Speed Rail [The Edge Malaysia]

• Thailand, Malaysia successfully test ‘Mysawasdee’ cross-border tourist train [The Star]
“The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has successfully tested the cross-border “MySawasdee” tourist train in collaboration with Malaysia’s national railway operator, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), ahead of its scheduled operation by the end of 2025.”

Myanmar

• Yangon–Nay Pyi Taw Aircon Express adds new Spanish coach trains from October 9 [Eleven Myanmar]

• Yangon-Bagan-Yangon railway route changes [Global New Light of Myanmar]

• Steam locomotives set to boost domestic and foreign tourism [sacoffice]

Philippines

• DoTr completes pre-feasibility study for Mindanao Railway Project [Philippine News Agency]

• Five firms express interest in North-South rail contract [BusinessWorld]

• Sweden grants $1.3 million for Philippines railway study [The Philippine Star]
“Sweden is providing $1.3 million in grant funding to support the feasibility study of the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Railway, the flagship project of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC).”

• Funding gap hounds revival of Lucena-Naga trains [The Philippine Star]
“As funding for a new Bicol Express remains elusive, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) is working to reinstate the old Lucena-Naga service by 2026, although this plan is also hindered by budget gaps.”

Thailand

• High-speed rail linking Thailand’s three airports on brink of collapse [Khaosod English]
“Nearly six years after signing the public-private partnership (PPP) contract in October 2019, Thailand’s 224.5-billion-baht ($6.8 billion) high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports has made virtually no progress. The mega-project, a cornerstone of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), now teeters on the edge of collapse”

• Thailand plans U-Tapao–Trat high-speed rail to unlock eastern tourism routes [Pattaya Mail]

• Thailand’s high-speed rail dream inches forward while the region races ahead [Time Out Thailand]
“Thailand’s long-awaited high-speed rail link to China is still stuck at the station – but when it finally leaves, it could transform the country’s overlooked northeast into Southeast Asia’s next great weekend escape.”

• SRT invites travellers to enjoy scenic ‘floating train’ ride at Pa Sak Jolasid Dam [The Nation]

• SRT successfully tests “MySawasdee” train with Malaysia, extends route to Surat Thani [The Nation]

Vietnam

• Viet Nam approves adjustments to national railway network plan to 2050 [Nhan Dan]
An updated list of proposed railways for Vietnam.

• Vietnam unveils new $5.4B high-speed railway linking Hanoi and Ha Long [VnExpress]

• PM orders ground-breaking for Lào Cai–Hà Nội–Hải Phòng Railway in December [Viet Nam News]

• Vietnamese firm proposes $12bn Ho Chi Minh City–Can Tho–Ca Mau railway project [Tuoi Tre News]

• VNR launches online ticket sales for Gia Lam – Nanning international train [VietnamPlus]