High-speed expansion to Surabaya, feasibility study for Vientiane-Pakse railway, Malaysia’s ECRL on track for January 2027 launch, Mindanao Railway revived, the ‘Rapid’ train to Chiang Mai, Vietnam selects Spanish firm to consult on North-South high-speed rail.

Hello from Phan Thiet. I needed a beach break, so I got the train here from Ga Sài Gòn. The Saigon-Phan Thiet train is a good option if you are short on time but want a beach break.

[Phan Thiet Station]

I don’t have any travel plans by train for the next month, but I have been planning research trips for 2026. In addition to revisiting some familiar lines, I am planning to visit the Philippines, Sumatra, and more lines in Java.

This month’s news is overshadowed by the freak accident involving a train from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani. 32 passengers lost their lives when the train was hit by a falling crane on the high-speed rail construction site. Another crane accident happened the following day with a crane collapsing at a elevated highway project. Both crane accidents were by the same contractor.

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