First Cross-Border Train From Thailand To Cambodia On 18 October 2021

The first international cross-border cargo train from Thailand to Cambodia ran on 18 October 2021 with a delivery of used rails, concrete sleepers, and fastenings from the State Railway of Thailand to Royal Railway Cambodia. The train was formed of Royal Railway Cambodia’s IRCON YDM4 6657 Locomotive to haul the cargo train from the border, and State Railway of Thailand’s Bogie Flat Wagons carrying the cargo from Thailand through to Cambodia.

This first cargo train finally ran after 2.5 years when this cross-border railway link opened on 22 April 2019 when Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen rode a donated 4-car Hitachi RHN DMU across the border together from Ban Klong Luk Border in Thailand to Poipet in Cambodia.

The first cargo train from Thailand to Cambodia has a commemorative banner attached to it.

The rake of the State Railway of Thailand’s Bogie Flat Wagons is stabled at Ban Klong Luk Border Railway Station, Thailand to wait for the Royal Railway (Cambodia) locomotive.

Interestingly, there is a designated “Coupling Point” in Thailand before the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge. The rake gets shunted right to the “Coupling Point”.

Looks like Royal Railway (Cambodia) locomotives do not freely enter into Thailand, unlike how Thai locomotives enter Malaysia’s Padang Besar Railway Station whenever there are trains operating, and vice-versa for Malaysian locomotives entering Thailand when running around the train from the platforms.

Royal Railway Cambodia’s IRCON YDM4 6657 Locomotive arrived at the border to haul the very first cargo train from Thailand to Cambodia, picking the rake up precisely from the “Coupling Point”.

Royal Railway Cambodia’s IRCON YDM4 6657 Locomotive takes the very first cargo train from Thailand in to Cambodia. It is not known where the final destination of this train is when in Cambodia.