Making the most of the Java rail network

The Future Southeast Asia Newsletter features transport and urban development news in Southeast Asia, edited by James Clark.

Hello from Chiang Mai. This week I continue working my way through articles from my Indonesia trip. I’ve been writing about rail travel at Nomadic Notes (my travel site) and I was debating whether this week’s article should be there.

This week’s main article is a proposal to create a Java Rail Pass. This is an addition to the “10 New Balis”, which is a government policy to spread tourism beyond Bali. I have other alternative ideas that are related to infrastructure, so they will be featured in the newsletter.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• Java Rail Pass proposal: putting Java train travel on the world tourism map

The Java Rail Pass is a proposed tourist rail pass to promote train travel in Java and diversify tourism beyond Bali.

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News Extra

News Extra for paid subscribers, which expands on news stories and some insights into what I am working on.

• News Extra: July 2024

Travel plans for Future Southeast Asia research, Thailand double-tracking update, Bangkok unified ticketing system, Pattaya Vs Vung Tau.

News

• SE Asia’s fuel subsidies under pressure amid budget constraints

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Koh Kong airport to launch domestic services in August

• Residents demand fair compensation for Cambodia’s canal project

• Cambodia to beat gongs and drums on August 5 to commemorate groundbreaking ceremony for Funan Techo Canal Project

• Preparation for construction of a bridge crossing the Mekong River on track

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• President Jokowi delays formalising Nusantara status over sluggish progress

• Is Nusantara ready? Analyzing the new capital’s preparedness for a historic event

• Hyundai's flying taxi to begin test flights in Indonesia’s new capital this July

• Calls for Jakarta, nearby cities to tighten coordination to mitigate gridlock, emissions

• Indonesia's KAI seeks Rp1.8tn capital for new trains from China

• Why Indonesia’s state-owned railway company is taking on debt

🇱🇦 Laos

• Asean Express Freight Train arrives Laos with KTMB’s Rolling Stock, boosting regional trade

• Laos kicks off green bus trials to boost public transport in four provinces

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Estimated infrastructure cost of RTS Link project up 29.9% to RM5.24bil

• Study on Trans-Borneo Railway project to complete in August 2025

• Klang Valley’s low MRT ridership and how to fix it

• Pangkor residents reject govt’s development plan

• How bad are our KTM stations? One public transport advocate visits 59 to find out

• Hydrogen buses to power Sarawak Metro’s KUTS project

• Zero success rate for River of Life objectives, A-G’s report says

• Boosting tourism through city parks

 🇵🇭 Philippines

• Expect pricier flights: NAIA terminal fees may climb 73% after privatization

• Cebu Pacific says to buy up to 152 Airbus planes worth US$24 billion

• DOTr to bid out study for Subic-Batangas rail

• DOTr eyes 6 TBMs for Metro Manila Subway by yearend

• CHR rebukes construction of Ormoc Megacity

"The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday raised concerns over the sentiments from residents of a fishing village in Ormoc City who feared displacement due to the construction of a new Megacity in their locality."

• World Bank: Trunk line of Cebu BRT may be completed this August

• PBBM upbeat about Tacloban airport dev't completion by 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

• S'pore willing to discuss with M'sia about HSR, but hasn't received any new proposals

• Tengah residents’ public transport links get boost with opening of new bus interchange on July 21

• 'Can't see incoming buses': Pillars at new bus stop opposite Parkway Parade draw commuters' ire

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Rapid growth and recent floods prompt Phuket’s push for autonomy

• Thailand advised to integrate transport modes

"To achieve its goal of becoming an aviation hub by 2030, Thailand should encourage more robust domestic travel and integrate different modes of transport, according to Alton Aviation Consultancy."

• Chong Nonsi trees being conserved, says city

• Pattaya city transforms space near Bali Hai Pier into public park

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• $779mn automated guideway transit proposed for Ho Chi Minh City

• Lotte Group resume $900 million Eco Smart City project in Vietnam next month

• Vietnam’s Quang Tri Province breaks ground on $228mn airport

• Lao Cai province calls for investment in five transport projects

"They include Sa Pa airport, an expressway connecting Sa Pa airport and Sa Pa town, Dong Pho Moi inland port, Kim Thanh – Ban Vuoc inland port and an inland port for Sa Pa airport."

• Hanoi looks to replace all diesel-powered buses with electric vehicles by 2035

• Residents cede homes for road to boost HCMC – Mekong Delta connectivity

• Scenic Lang Co Bay resorts, villas abandoned for years