Whoosh debt restructuring, Laos-Vietnam rail link, ECRL testing begins ahead of 2027 launch, Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project risks delay, Vietnam, China sign cooperation agreement on planning two railways.

News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Railways await green light for economic growth [Cambodianess]

“Railways remain underused in Cambodia. The government has been trying to promote the sector over the past decade but passenger transport is still dominated by road and air.”

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Whoosh ticket sales reached 145,000 during Eid holiday period : KCIC [Antara News]

• Danantara aims to complete Whoosh debt restructuring by mid-2026 [Jakarta Globe]

• Surabaya to Probolinggo now reachable by SuPasPro Commuter, fares start at Rp 8,000 [Jawawa]

• President Prabowo wants all train stations to be modernized [Antara News]

 🇱🇦 Laos

• Laos-China Railway raises fares across all routes starting 1 April [The Laotian Times]

• Lao government pushes Laos-Vietnam rail link to access sea trade routes [Vientiane Times]

“The government has given the National Assembly a detailed description of the plan to build a railway linking Laos and Vietnam, aiming to give Laos direct sea access and boost regional connectivity.”

• China-Laos Railway steps up simplified customs clearance procedures [China Daily]

 🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Tracks done: All 519km ECRL laid from Kota Bharu to Gombak, testing begins ahead of 2027 launch [Malay Mail]

“The track laying of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) for the entire Kota Bharu, Kelantan to Gombak, Selangor alignment, covering 519 kilometres (km) has been completed.”

• Sabah Railway Department launches internal probe after recent runaway train incident [Malay Mail]

🇲🇲 Myanmar

• Myanmar travellers ride the rails as fuel prices rise [AFP]

“Myanmar’s ageing railway stations are bustling with life, crowded with passengers as surging fuel prices due to the Mideast war drive commuters to choose trains over costly planes and cars.”

🇵🇭 Philippines

• BEYOND THE PNR TRACKS: The trillion-peso railway question (Part 3) [Daily Tribune]

“Long before the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) became a multibillion-peso megaproject, the Philippines already had a rail backbone.

The system began with the Ferrocarril de Manila–Dagupan railway in 1892, linking Manila to Pangasinan.”

• The lost railway system of the Philippines (YouTube) [mikxqs]

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Thailand’s mediocre master plan for rail development [Future Southeast Asia]

“Thailand is spending billions of baht in double tracking its antiquated metre-gauge railway network, which will not significantly improve train speeds. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s grand master plan is making Thailand’s plan look mediocre by comparison. Here is what Thailand is planning, and what they should do instead.”

• Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project risks delay, may miss 2030 launch [The Nation]

“The project, implemented in cooperation between the Thai and Chinese governments and using Chinese high-speed rail technology throughout, has so far achieved a cumulative progress of 52.4%, lagging 28.2% behind the target of 80.73%.”

• SRT adds special train services for Songkran holiday travel [The Nation]

“The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is preparing to add a total of six special trains, comprising 22 trips, to accommodate public travel during the 2026 Songkran festival.”

• SRT reviews loss strategy as oil prices soar and costs outpace income [The Nation]

• Chiang Mai train station sees surge in passengers as fuel crisis bites [Citylife Chiang Mai]

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Construction of Hà Nội–Quảng Ninh high-speed railway set to kick off on April 12 [Viet Nam News]

• Vietnam, China sign cooperation agreement on planning two railways [VietnamPlus]

“Vietnam and China have signed a technical cooperation agreement on planning two standard-gauge railways Hanoi – Dong Dang and Hai Phong – Ha Long – Mong Cai, marking progress in bilateral railway connectivity.”

• Vietnam, France step up cooperation on high-speed rail [DTI News]

“Vietnam and France are seeking to expand cooperation in railway development, particularly high-speed rail, following talks in Paris between officials and industry representatives.”

• “Central Heritage Connection Journey” train unveils new exterior design [SGGP]

“The train’s new design is crafted to present a modern appearance while preserving a strong sense of heritage. Its exterior stands out with the dreamy purple Hue emblematic of Hue City, harmoniously blended with the light grey tones that reflect the modern and dynamic character of the coastal city of Da Nang. The brand logo is highlighted in bronze-gold.”

• The ‘train track’ cafe in Hue train station is causing a sensation. [Vietnam VN]

“This cafe, which also serves rice cooked in clay pots, has become a sensation by using an old train engine as its focal point, located within the Hue train station. Customers can enjoy their drinks while watching trains go by.”