Future Southeast Asia News [15 Oct 2025]

Southeast Asia Railways Report, Indonesia looks to settle high-speed rail debt while extending to Surabaya, KL’s emerging Green Connector Network, Thailand plans Songkhla and Koh Lanta bridges, Hanoi breaks ground on metro line passing through Old Quarter

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James Clark
October 15, 2025

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

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Brunei's Trans-Borneo Railway connections, Indonesia plans high-speed rail to Surabaya, Vientiane to Vietnam and Pakse by train, Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link on track, more delays for Thailand's high-speed projects though regional lines progressing, Vietnam's ambitious rail plans but still no new lines under construction.

Recent articles

Turning Hat Yai into a great southern metropolis, apartment living comes to Hat Yai city, the tallest building in Southern Thailand, the Hat Yai Monorail plan, Hat Yai-Songkhla Railway revival, and double-tracking the railway to the border.

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News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

🇮🇩 Indonesia

"A billion-dollar resort in Buwun Mas promises jobs but sparks fears of cultural erosion and environmental damage."

🇱🇦 Laos

🇲🇾 Malaysia

"The government has allocated RM2.3 billion under Budget 2026 for airport upgrades in Penang, Sarawak, and Sabah."

"Petronas, as the landowner of Bandar Malaysia, is in the midst of drawing up the development plan."

"A quiet transformation is underway in Malaysia’s capital. Beneath the skyscrapers and flyovers, planners are trying to reconnect the city’s historic heart through a series of shaded corridors, pocket parks and pedestrian-friendly back lanes."

"Penang has launched Silicon Island at the World Expo 2025, marking a historic milestone in a journey to reaffirm its position as the Silicon Valley of the East."

🇵🇭 Philippines

"While officials blamed overloaded trucks, experts urged the government to build modern infrastructure and stop corruption in public works."

"China is manipulating the bidding for the Philippines’ longest bridge. Five state-owned firms are tendering for the P210-billion, 32.15-kilometer Bataan-Cavite span.

The five bids are not independent. They are coordinated to be 20 to 30 percent below market rate. China will subsidize the losses."

"Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is calling for the creation of a single, coordinated national airport masterplan to optimize operations and increase the capacity of existing gateways while building additional hubs."

🇸🇬 Singapore

• I'm Singapore's guerrilla wayfinder (YouTube) [tehsiewdai]

"This video documents one person's journey designing and installing unofficial wayfinding signs across Singapore."

🇹🇭 Thailand

"...the agency will expedite the East Expansion Project, valued at 12 billion baht, which will add 81,000 square metres of passenger space and increase capacity by 15 million passengers per year."

"...two key investment projects worth 6.5 billion baht are being prioritised this year -- the 4.84 billion baht Songkhla Lake Bridge linking Krasae Sin district in Songkhla with Phatthalung's Khao Chaison district and the Koh Lanta Bridge in Krabi province valued at 1.85 billion baht."

"The controversial proposal to build a cable car up Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai’s iconic mountain and home to its most sacred temple, has been formally revived, sparking an immediate and familiar debate over balancing tourism revenue with local culture and environment."

🇹🇱 Timor-Leste

🇻🇳 Vietnam

"The Ministry of Construction has approved approximately 1,960ha of land for the airport for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050. The airport will connect with the expressway linking Hà Nội and Hải Phòng City and an urban railway station near the passenger terminal will integrate with both the national railway network and the Hà Nội urban railway line."

"One of largest intersections in Ho Chi Minh City's central area, the Dan Chu Roundabout, is being temporarily narrowed to make space for the Ben Thanh - Tham Luong metro line construction."

"Vietnam’s private conglomerate Sovico Group, controlled by billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, will study the Metro Line 4 project, which stretches 47.3 km from Hoc Mon to Nha Be, Ho Chi Minh City."

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