How to fix the worst railway station in Southeast Asia

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

Following on from last week’s news that KL Sentral will be redeveloped, I’ve put together my wish list of what changes I would like to see at the station. One of the ideas might be too radical for car-centric KL (it involves closing a road), but they have to start somewhere.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• How to fix KL Sentral

Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station will be redeveloped at the end of 2024. Here are some ideas to improve the station.

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News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• PM: Funan Techo Canal construction to begin August

• ‘Tall Building Forum’ envisions Phnom Penh’s future

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Officials overseeing Indonesia capital city project resign, raising questions

• Indonesia to test flying taxis for new capital Nusantara in July, ahead of Independence Day showcase

• Jakarta MRT expansion shows Japan's prowess as China steps up rail push

• Bali plans underground railroad: Government seeks investors

🇱🇦 Laos

• Vientiane moves closer to efficient bus service

“Construction of bus lanes and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations under the Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project have begun in Vientiane with the work expected to be complete by the end of December.”

• Luang Prabang approves new economic zone for tourism, economic growth

• The 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge is 70% completed

• Thailand confirms interest in a 6th bridge to Laos

“The possible construction of a new bridge linking Ubon Ratchathani and Saravan province in southern Laos was discussed in recent talks between Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith”.

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• From runways to recreation: Sungai Besi’s journey from air base to urban playground

“The historic former RMAF base is set to transform into a sports and entertainment hub with an RM80 million investment.”

• LRT: Penang govt, MRT Corp explore ‘low- to medium-capacity’ system, says state exco 

• Penang Hill cable car project gets green light

• Penang studying need for special financial zone

• Underground dam to be built in Langkawi

• Revitalising the Laluan Penarikan: Malaysia’s new canal for modern container ships

“A waterway connecting Muar to Pekan could be a game-changer for Malaysia, revitalising local economies and placing the country firmly on the map as a global logistics hub.”

🇵🇭 Philippines

• NAIA ready to transform into world-class facility

• PNR says North-South Commuter Railway may start partial operations in 2026

• Opening of 12 MRT 7 stations in QC seen by next year

• Panay-Guimaras-Negros Link Bridge is gov’t priority

“Based on the detailed engineering design, there are two segments for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge totaling 32 kilometers”.

• Alliance Global to invest more for proposed Skytrain project

“Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), the holding company of tycoon Andrew Tan, expects to spend more money for the development of its planned monorail project that will link Fort Bonifacio to the MRT Guadalupe Station.”

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Researchers build ‘digital twin’ of Singapore to assess urban heat, find ways to cool city

• The architect who made Singapore’s public housing the envy of the world

“With a focus on affordability, community, convenience and light, Liu Thai Ker replaced squalid slums with spacious high-rises. A recent spike in some sale prices, however, has saddened him.”

• Singapore begins second phase of casino resort development

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Phuket airport eyes new terminal

“Phuket airport is planning to invest B6 billion to build a new terminal for international flights to expand its passenger handling capacity from 12.5 million a year to 18mn.”

• High-speed rail delays stall Pattaya Transit-Oriented Development plans

• Pattaya City invests 3.1 billion baht into putting power lines underground

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Japanese contractor demands nearly VNĐ4 trillion in additional costs for HCM City’s metro line 1

“Japan’s Hitachi, the contractor carrying out the Contract Package 3 for the HCM City’s Metro Line 1, has requested compensation from the investor for project-related additional costs amounting to nearly VNĐ4 trillion (US$153.3 million).“

• Hanoi plans 100-km metro network by 2030

• $1.8B credit contract signed for Long Thanh airport project

• Future look of surroundings of Ho Chi Minh City’s iconic Ben Thanh Market

“A nearly-46,000-square-meter area surrounding the iconic Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City will get a VND157-billion (US$6.2 million) makeover, with more green spaces, and restored structures and statues being the highlights.”

• Construction stalled on tallest bridge in Vietnam