Phnom Penh (FN), March 21 – Cambodia will resume its rail road passenger services the first time in many decades on April 9, just days before the Khmer New Year holidays; a move that will help ease partly traffic problems at the time that most of the capital city population generally go out to provinces.

A representative of The Toll Royal Railway, an authorized investment company in railway transport, told the press on March 21, that the company would start a pilot passenger service between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville (260km from to the south of Phnom Penh) and that the train would stop and pick up passengers at two main provincial stations of Takeo and Kampot before the train reaches the final destination of Sihanoukville.

The company’s representative said the trial passenger service would be for one full week from April 9 to April 17 which is the Khmer New Year period during which traffic congestion could also be eased partly since many passengers may choose to travel by rail road. After the trial, the company would consider to set up a new specific date for future operation. However, if many people are interested in the service then the company would just continue the operation right away, the company’s representative said.

As for travel fares, the company said it would cost $7 for an eight-hour trip from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville on a distance of 260km. Fares for a trip from Phnom Penh to Takeo and Kampot are respectively $5 and $6. Tickets are available at stations in Phnom Penh as well as hose in the provinces.
=FRESHNEWS