Battambang to Phnom Penh by train

Battambang is on the Northern Line that operates between Poipet and Phnom Penh. Right here is what to anticipate on the prepare from Battambang to Phnom Penh.

Battambang – Phnom Penh prepare particulars

The Northern Line is the prepare line from Phnom Penh to Poipet (on the Cambodia-Thailand border). There’s often one prepare per day in every course between Phnom Penh and Poipet, however on the time of my go to the Battambang-Poipet part wasn’t working.

Depart Battambang: 3:00 pm
Arrive Phnom Penh: 9:30 pm

The official reserving website is at https://royalrailway.easybook.com.

I take advantage of Baolau to buy Cambodia train tickets.

If you’re overlanding from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, there’s a prepare from Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border. From this station you may stroll throughout the border to Poipet. From Poipet to Battambang you will want to get a van or taxi as there’s at present no prepare service.

Battambang Station

Battambang Station is within the metropolis centre, 450 metres from the riverfront.

There are not any retailers contained in the station, which is honest sufficient contemplating there is just one prepare per day in every course.

Some meals distributors present up earlier than the prepare, however you’ll be higher off to have lunch first and convey your personal snacks.

There wasn’t anybody on the ticket workplace once I arrived, and the one journey info was this timetable written on a whiteboard.

Onboard Battambang – Phnom Penh service

This service featured two carriages with padded bench seats. The prepare is a diesel a number of unit (DMU), which implies the engine is contained in the carriage and never a separate locomotive. The carriage with the engine was noisier, so I sat within the final carriage.

The carriages have followers and the home windows will be opened. The mixture of fan and open air made for a snug journey.

There have been solely 10 folks onboard when the prepare departed, so there was no fear about not getting a ticket. I nonetheless want to guide upfront, particularly if it is a preplanned journey occasion that I don’t need to miss.

I take pleasure in these trains with open home windows. The mixture of contemporary air and feeling nearer to the panorama makes for an fulfilling journey. I additionally know that these trains will quickly be a factor of the previous.

It ought to go with out saying that you just shouldn’t stick your arm or head out of the window.

The prepare has a rest room onboard.

The road is a single monitor, so if there’s a prepare coming within the different course then one of many trains has to attend at a passing loop.

The prepare made some stops alongside the best way to drop off passengers and parcels.

We additionally needed to cease for some cows that have been on the monitor.

The prepare toots its horn incessantly as there are a lot of unmanned degree crossings.

It’s a sluggish journey nevertheless it’s extra scenic than by going by street. The prepare goes by way of rice fields, and seeing the occasional temple within the distance is a particular sight.

Pursat Station

The primary cease in between Battambang and Phnom Penh is at Pursat.

The prepare stops for half-hour right here, so it’s the one likelihood to purchase meals or drinks on the journey. There are meals distributors subsequent to the station.

It is a common cease with extra folks getting on right here to go to Phnom Penh.

[A Pursat cat wondering if it should go to Phnom Penh.]

Phnom Penh Railway Station

The prepare is scheduled to reach in Phnom Penh at 9.30, and on my journey it arrived at 9.35pm.

[Battambang train at Phnom Penh.]

On the platform to the left is the Kiha prepare that operates from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, which was my subsequent journey.

The Kiha prepare will finally function on the Phnom Penh to Poipet service, so this journey report will turn into a historic archive of what the the prepare used to appear like.

There are tuktuks ready exterior the station, however I used Seize app to guide a taxi from the station.

This prepare journey overview is a part of the Southeast Asia railways information.