A plan, a train, a canal – Cambodia

[News: 17 May 2023] Transit plans for Batam, Bali, Penang and Lapu-Lapu, Hanoi proposes second international airport

May 17, 2023

Hello from Hua Hin. Here are this week’s feature articles and round-up of news.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

Bassac Sea-Link: A waterway and canal system connecting Phnom Penh to Kampot

The Bassac River Navigation and Logistics System (“BRNLS”) is a proposed waterway that will connect Phnom Penh to Kampot via the Bassac River. The project would enable goods to be shipped to and from the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port without having to go through Vietnam.

After compiling the fact sheet for this project I wrote an editorial:

Cambodia should rebuild the railway instead of building a canal

“The audacious project to build a green and walkable capital city from the ground up.”

• New capital cities, deforestation and social apartheid: the parallels between Brazil and Indonesia

• Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train test to start soon; people asked to stay away from tracks

• Batam to construct Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system to ease congestion

• Bali government to develop LRT from airport to tourist areas

🇱🇦 Laos

• Section II of Lao-Thai Railway completed

“The railway link will be opened for public use following the finalisation of the Thailand-Laos train licence agreement.”

• China-Laos Railway records over 13,000 cross-border passenger trips

• Luang Prabang braces for new dam, influx of tourists

“The historic town is on the verge of major changes. Some residents worry that new development could threaten the spiritual essence of the place.”

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Controversial Penang reclamation project downsized from 3 islands to 1

• Scaled-down PSI will still boost Penang’s economy, say businessmen

“The Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce says it will encourage more companies, especially high-tech firms, to set up factories.”

• Finance, Transport Ministries to discuss funding models for Penang LRT project

• Vincent Tan's Berjaya Group is keen to develop the KL-Singapore high-speed rail project

• Penang Hill Corp expects to start construction of cable car project in Q2 2024

• PM Anwar: Ensure ECRL project a catalyst for change in east coast

• Ferries, HSR resumption among proposals to curb Johor-S’pore border traffic: Loke

• Menora Tunnel: A troubled history of frequent accidents and loss of lives

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Lapu-Lapu City mulls monorail or LRT for better public transport

Lapu-Lapu City is next to Mactan-Cebu International Airport on the island next to Cebu City. There is no mention in the press releases if this is even connecting to Cebu or part of the Cebu Monorail proposal.

• Koreans interested in designing, building Bataan-Cavite bridge, DPWH says

• Design changes up MRT-4 cost by P28 billion

• DOTr eyes inclusion of three regional airport PPP projects in next ICC-CabCom meeting

🇸🇬 Singapore

• JB-S'pore RTS Link 'on track' for completion by end-2026, S'pore side is 50% done: Iswaran

• Singapore’s middle class reels over record COE prices: ‘US$150,000 for a Toyota Corolla?’

“The price of a permit to own a car, known as a certificate of entitlement (COE), has ballooned to US$75,000 in the land-scarce city state, before even factoring in the car’s cost.”

• Commentary: Instead of making it expensive to own a car, why not make it expensive to use instead