Bali Railways: The Canggu subway and beach tram plan

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

This week it was reported that Bali plans to start construction of an urban railway this year. It’s called the Bali LRT, but the article refers to it as the Airport-Canggu Subway. Seeing “Canggu” and “subway” together still doesn’t seem real. If you are not familiar with Bali, Canggu was mostly rice fields a decade ago, and now tourism development from the south has made its way up the coast. Canggu is now synonymous with terrible traffic and digital nomads.

In a newsletter last month I mentioned that I met with members of the Transport Department in Bali. I was honoured to be invited there as they explained some of the railway plans. They also shared some rail maps, which are now online here.

This week’s articles are all about rail transit in Bali.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• Bali LRT: The proposed railway connecting the airport to Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, and Mengwi

This article covers the proposed LRT that will be built from the airport to Kuta. It will then be extended to Seminyak, Canggu, and Mengwi. There is one map that shows a general route, while another map shows a more detailed route of the first stage.

• Bali Beach Tram: A tramway connecting the airport to Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak

The Bali Beach Tram is a proposed tramway along the Bali beachfront. The tram would connect Ngurah Rai International Airport to Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak beaches (collectively known as Semigita Beach). This is separate from the LRT, and so far they haven’t worked out how to connect it to the LRT.

• Bali Railways Masterplan: News and resources for proposed railways in Bali

This is the first page I published about Bali railways. This page includes an archive of previous railway proposals, and I’ve moved the LRT and tram information to separate pages. I’ve updated this page to include this incredible Bali Railway Masterplan map. The section in blue represents where the LRT will run. (View the full-sized map here.)

• If you are new to the Future Southeast Asia Newsletter, last year I made a Bali Railway Concept Map. This map is composed of lines that have been proposed over the years, with a few sections added by myself. The bulk of the map is made from real proposals, such as the line that goes around the island.

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News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• New capital airport set for early ’25 operations

• TIA to Phnom Penh railway underway, as airport enters final straight

“With the construction of Phnom Penh Techno International Airport (TIA) now nearing its home straight, representatives of the project have announced that preparations are now underway for the airport’s terminal-to-central-city railway development.”

• Cambodia and Vietnam: When a canal should not divide

"Vietnam has, at times, sacrificed its national interests for the sake of good relationships with its neighbours. This still rings true today."

• High speed trains tested in Sihanoukville

The Khmer Times insists on referring to these trains as “high speed”.

• Kampot Multipurpose Port inaugurated, opens new int’l gateway to trade

• Why is the Siem Reap River polluted?

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Indonesia’s leader says 1st phase of new capital is 80% complete and he’ll have an office there soon

• Indonesia’s president says new capital on track, despite resignations

• Eri Cahyadi: ART Development in Surabaya is more rational than MRT

• Bus friends in Makassar, comfortable and cheap but still lack of enthusiasts

🇱🇦 Laos

• Major road enhancements in Vientiane to boost traffic safety, flow

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Malaysia’s transport minister eyes partnerships with China to drive infrastructure goals

• Malaysia urges private sector to ‘take the lead’ on funding high-speed rail link to Singapore

• Loke: Ministry receives first set of electric trains for Gemas-JB double-tracked service

• Putrajaya, not state, will decide on Penang LRT, says Loke

• Is KL Sentral’s redevelopment really necessary?

• Sanusi holds talks with China delegation on Kulim airport

• Abang Johari: New Kuching International Airport modelled after Hamad International Airport in Qatar

 🇲🇲 Myanmar

• Bridge built with Japanese aid completed in Myanmar

• 39 buildings designated as ancient buildings for preservation in Myanmar

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Government mulls use of electric train for Mindanao railway

• After two decades in limbo, new Cebu port to begin construction in Q3

• CAAP: Phase 2 of Baler Airport Dev’t to commence in July

• Mober raises $6M to grow EV an logistics fleet for the Philippines

• Escudero suspends construction of new Senate building due to ‘escalating costs’

• How Metro Manila train lines are seeking to improve facilities for persons with disability

🇸🇬 Singapore

• JB-S’pore RTS Link project reports steady progress, nears 80% completion

• Construction of S’pore’s largest floating solar farm at Kranji Reservoir to begin in 2025

• Sneak preview of 7 new Thomson-East Coast Line stations on Jun 21

• A struggling business park deals a blow to Singapore's regional hub ambitions (archive)

• Malaysia-Singapore causeway: after 100 years, ‘it’s mutual lah’ (archive)

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Mega land bridge project not a pie in the sky, says Transport Ministry

• Progress on infrastructure projects in EEC updated

• Lao railway set for full trial run next month

“Thailand and Laos are gearing up to open a railway network connecting Bangkok and Vientiane, according to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), with a trial run set for next month.”

• Electric Bangkok boat taxis to launch in July

• If you have ever taken the BTS in Bangkok, you will be familiar with this voice.

🇹🇱 Timor-Leste

• Timor-Leste's submarine cable: A promise of high-speed connection for economic prosperity

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line’s elevated section ready for commercial run in late June

• HCM City’s Metro Line No 1 trial run proposed to delay again

• Cleared site to be handed over for Ho Chi Minh City’s second metro project in June

• HCMC metro depot lies abandoned

"The plot of land acquired for building the Tan Kien Depot on HCMC's metro line 3A now lies abandoned and locals use it for agriculture."

Line 3A is technically the western extension of Line 1. I have not found a reason why one line will have 2 numbers. Not that I need to worry about it for the next decade considering how delayed this project is.

• Heart of Long Thanh airport project in southern Vietnam revealed

Good to see the progress of this delayed airport. It’s also interesting to compare progress with the new Phnom Penh airport. While Phnom Penh is preparing to build an airport rail link, Long Thanh has gone silent on the airport rail link and is now proposing a boat link.

• Vietnam War-affected Dong Nai transforms into economic hub (archive)

• Ho Chi Minh City to start construction of footbridge over Saigon River in April 2025