The train to the top of Borneo

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

Hello from Da Lat in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. I’m here to cover transport and urban development news, including proposed railways, new urban areas, and overdevelopment. I will have a report for subscribers soon.

This week’s feature article is about the Kota Kinabalu-Kudat railway in Sabah, Malaysia.

The link at the bottom is a special delivery boat in the Mekong Delta.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• Kota Kinabalu – Kudat Railway

Kota Kinabalu-Kudat rail project is a proposed railway connecting the capital of Sabah to the northern tip of Borneo. This is a separate railway to the Trans-Borneo Railway, which is mentioned in this week’s news.

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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: November 2024

Vietnam travel update, site publishing changes, why I'm not using AI or outsourcing for research, can we stop saying "The Next Singapore", Long Thanh International Airport 2nd runway(when cost-cutting costs more in the long run), applying the Pareto Principle to Cambodian infrastructure spending.

News

• Southeast Asia prepares for factories fleeing Trump tariffs on China

• How will another Trump presidency affect Southeast Asia’s energy transition?

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• In Pictures: PM opens new “Techo Santepheap Road” at Angkoul Beach in Kep today

• The balance between economic development and environment weighs heavily on officials in Sihanoukville

• “Weaknesses in Mekong River Governance: The Case of the Funan Techo Canal” by Pham Vu Thieu Quang

• Cambodia has 1,273 Chinese-invested factories worth $9B

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Indonesia drops new terminal at Soetta Airport for budget efficiency

• Indonesia focuses on infrastructure to boost food security goals

• An ‘ocean grab’ for a property megaproject leaves Jakarta fishers grounded

• Indonesia’s future capital Nusantara’s flying taxi to operate commercially in 2029

• Why are many Jakartans still hesitant to use public transport?

• Parts of proposed North Bali airport site overlap with protected forest areas

🇱🇦 Laos

• New electric buses arrive for passenger use in Vientiane

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Selangor proposes RM6bil tunnel to mitigate flooding

"The state government is considering a Japanese-inspired underground tunnel system to divert rain overflow from Kuala Lumpur."

• Phase two of ECRL ready by end of 2027, Dewan Rakyat told

• Feasibility study on proposed Trans-Borneo Railway to be completed in one year

• Work on Penang Mutiara Line LRT to start early 2025

• Penang to launch trial bus lanes to ease congestion

• Penang tunnel project studies incomplete due to port expansion plans

 🇲🇲 Myanmar

• Myanmar junta media hail ‘success’ of regime boss’s visit to China

"During his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Min Aung Hlaing, who is desperate for Beijing’s intervention to halt the fighting in northern Shan State and for diplomatic support on the international stage, promised to launch construction of the Muse-Mandalay-Kyaukphyu railroad in secure areas, adding that Myanmar also attached great importance to the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor project."

🇵🇭 Philippines

• ADB approves $1.7-B expressway loan

• LRT1 Cavite Extension to open first 5 stations this November

🇸🇬 Singapore

• More Skytrain cars, Terminal 3 upgrade part of Changi Airport’s S$3 billion enhancement plan

• Work on waterfront development for Resorts World Sentosa’s $6.8b expansion to start in November

• Roads in Tanglin, Dawson area to be extended, widened for future developments

• Sky-high demolitions: What is behind Singapore’s many skyscraper tear-downs

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Thailand able to handle 65 M annual passengers with Suvarnabhumi's new runway

"The third runway at Suvarnabhumi International Airport has been officially operating since 1 November 2024. Airports of Thailand (AOT) aims to increase the airport’s capacity from 68 to 94 flights per hour and to reach a total handling capacity of 65 million passengers per year."

• Three overpasses in Central Bangkok to be demolished for Orange Line construction

• Walk-cycle lanes to reduce congestion

"The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Thailand Walking and Cycling Institute Foundation (TWCIF) plan to develop a walking and cycling lane in four traffic-crowded areas of the capital, with a feasibility study wrapping up next month."

• Railway land assets worth THB96 bn set for auction to generate revenue

• Phuket Airport welcomes over 30,000 passengers daily with over 300 flights; expanding facilities to support 18 million annually

• Phitsanulok Airport to be positioned as region’s economic driver

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• North-South high-speed railway project submitted to parliament for consideration

• Ho Chi Minh City's first metro line undergoes test run at full capacity

• Ho Chi Minh City sinking 2-fold faster than sea level rise

• Ho Chi Minh City considers relocating households along canals, rivers

• Transport ministry urged to start construction of railway connecting with China next year

• Metro line connecting capital with airport needed

• Hà Nội to mobilise electric cars to take passengers to metro line stations

• French experts work on Long Bien Bridge restoration project

• Boat delivery in the Mekong Delta.

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