BANGKOK, Thailand, July 2 (NNN-TNA) – Train service between Thailand’s capital Bangkok, to the Baan Khlong Luek station, bordering Cambodia, started running on Monday (yesterday).
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) launched the service with four trains per day, two in each direction.
The route, which runs from Aranyaprathet railway station in eastern Thailand’s Sa Kaew Province, to the Baan Khlong Luek border checkpoint, also known as Rong Kluea Market, commenced service at 6:58 am local time.
The extension of the route follows an agreement signed by Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, and Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, in April, to jointly operate the train service linking the two countries.
Under the agreement, the repaired rail link between Aranyaprathet in Thailand and Poipet in Cambodia, reopened on April 22, 46 years after it was closed in a civil war that destroyed Cambodia’s railway infrastructure.
Prayut said, the train connection would facilitate cross-border trade and boost tourism around the eastern border of the country.
Train service in the Cambodian side is yet to be launched, so far. Cambodia re-opened the 370-km railway stretch from its capital Phnom Penh, to the Thailand border, last year. This facilitated recommencing railway services between the two countries.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported Cambodia’s construction of the rail link, with an investment of 13 million U.S. dollars, according to reports.– NNN-TNA
