BANGKOK, April 9 (TNA) – Cambodian and Thai leaders will preside over the opening of rail link between Aranyaprathet and Poipet on April 22.
The two countries are negotiating about a draft agreement on the train operation.
The signing ceremony will be witnessed by Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the launch date for the rail link.
A diesel-powered train with four carriages will be handed over to Cambodia as a symbolic gesture of good relations between two countries.
Before the scheduled opening ceremony, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith yesterday inspected readiness at the Ban Klong Luk border station and the rail line in Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo province.
The State Railway of Thailand has upgraded the rail line at the Thai border town and replaced an old train bridge, connecting Cambodia with a new one.
Thai-Cambodia rail link is the third international rail route, connecting Thailand and neighbouring countries. The new route is expected to facilitate travel and logistics across the Thai-Cambodian border.
Thailand has operated two international rail routes, connecting Songkhla’s Hat Yai-Padang Besar in Malaysia since 1918 and Nong Khai to Thanaleng in Laos since 2009.
Apart from the opening of the rail link, a ceremony will be held to celebrate the completion of a new Thai-Cambodian bridge construction.
The new bridge, connecting Nong Ian in Thailand and Stung Bot in Cambodia will help relieve traffic congestion at Ban Klong Luk border crossing. (TNA)
