Walking the most walkable city in SE Asia

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

Hello from Bali. I’m three-quarters of the way through my rail-themed trip across Indonesia, having covered Sumatra and Java so far.

There is no railway in Bali, but there are plans for various railways on the island, including an underground railway from the airport to Kuta, and then eventually to Canggu. Regular readers here may remember that I made a Bali railway map using previous railway proposals as a guide. I was contacted by the Department of Transport in Bali about this map and was invited to meet with them in Denpasar.

I already have so much to write about regarding the railways of Indonesia, but after seeing some new maps of proposed railways in Bali I might have to bump the Bali content up the publishing queue. Once I finish this trip I will be staying in one place for two months where I will work my way through these reports.

The fourth part of this trip is in Makassar, where I will report on the progress of the Trans-Sulawesi Railway.

This week’s feature article is my trip report for my Singapore visit. For some reason, I had never posted a construction report for Singapore, so it was good to explore the city and see what is new. I spent three days walking around, and after having spent time in places that are hard to walk in, I appreciated how easy walking in Singapore is (despite the heat).

Speaking of walking, I have some urban walking to do in Bali, so I will get this newsletter out the door.

If you have any comments about the railways or the news items below, hit reply or leave a comment on the online version (click view online). It’s always good to know who is reading!

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• Singapore construction update: 2024 edition

This is an observation of construction and urban development in Singapore from my visit in April 2024.

News

• ‘Inside an oven’: sweltering heat ravages crops and takes lives in south-east Asia

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• IN FOCUS: Cambodia’s US$16 billion ‘eco-city' raises financial and environmental concerns

• 57 hectares of central Phnom Penh to be pedestrianized as massive tourist area

• Techo International Airport to be ready in early 2025

• PM urges railway upgradation

• Sparking change: launching the low-carbon mobility project preparation study in Siem Reap City

• The Funan Techo Canal won’t end Cambodia’s dependency on Vietnam

• Kampot Port set to open by year's end after search for operator

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Government Begins Review of Jakarta-Surabaya Fast Train Project

• Passengers want better service amid plan to increase Commuter Line fares 

• Indonesia to propose flood control policy in Bali's World Water Forum

🇱🇦 Laos

• China-Laos Railway brings higher mobility, employment as profit concerns linger

• Vientiane capital grapples with water crisis, residents demand action

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Transport minister: Construction of ECRL project in four states reaches 65pc

• Penang LRT project on track despite minor amendment, says MRT Corp CEO

• Penang CM: Undersea tunnel project to be reviewed to make way for port expansion

• Subang Airport to kick off jet services operations in Q3: Anthony Loke

• Pilot trenching works begin at ART station near S’wak Heart Centre

 🇵🇭 Philippines

• Key to economic progress: Government launches Philippine Railway Development Plan to modernize, expand railway networks nationwide

• NAIA to be turned over to private proponent by September —DOTr

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Preparatory work to connect Thomson-East Coast Line with Changi Airport to begin in 2025

• Underground bicycle parking to be available at 3 new Thomson-East Coast Line stations

• ST Engineering bags more than $175 million in contracts to upgrade Singapore’s public bus fleet

• LTA to return first 2 new Bukit Panjang LRT trains to China plant for modifications

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Construction of two new Thai airports to start in 2027: AOT

“Feasibility studies for two new international airports in Thailand – Andaman Airport in the South and Lanna Airport in the North – should be complete this year with construction set to start by 2027, according to Airports of Thailand (AOT).”

• Extreme heat bends railway tracks

• PM reviews plans to fix Phuket traffic

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• HCMC well off target of 8 metro lines by 2035

• Ho Chi Minh City seeks to replant more trees than those leveled for infrastructure projects

• Ho Chi Minh City to dismantle illicitly-built projects, including part of Lotte Mart

• Vietnam Catholics oppose new hospital on monastery land