Riding the Bamboo Train in Battambang, Cambodia

Riding the Bamboo Train in Battambang, Cambodia

Riding the Bamboo Train in Battambang, Cambodia


I’m in Battambang, Cambodia riding the bamboo train! A makeshift train composed of a wooden frame with slats made of bamboo and powered by a six horsepower gasoline engine. The bamboo train runs on a single, narrow gauge track built by the French in the 1920s.

To accommodate two-way traffic on a single line, custom dictates that when two trains meet, the one with the lighter load leaves the track. Drivers and passengers pitch in to disassemble and reassemble the trains to allow passage. Due to the lightweight materials this is all done in a matter of seconds. Cambodian engineering at its finest!

Rumor has it that the Bamboo train is likely to see its end within a few years. The Cambodian rail company is upgrading the tracks and when the new trains and tracks are in place the bamboo train will be stopped for safety reasons. Even more reason to ride the bamboo train today. Book your ticket for Cambodia!

A picture of my train operator and a view of the Cambodian countryside. A classic rail journey!

Stay tuned for more of my adventures in Southeast Asia.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Taken on: 25th May, 2012. Copyright: All Rights Reserved - See Sam Antonio Photography's page of Flickr

Read more about Battambang

Battambang is the rice bowl of western Cambodia, home to some spectacular rural scenery and within easy distance of both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

This sprawling province has a range of tourist sites including Angkor-period temples, mountain viewpoints, wetlands and typical day-to-day rural scenery. Despite the wealth of attractions, Battambang province makes it onto the itinerary of relatively few travellers, making it a fabulous off-the-beaten-track destination.

The provincial capital of the same-named province, Battambang is Cambodia's second largest city and one of our all-time favourite spots in Cambodia. A relaxed and laid-back town, Battambang is primarily a farmer and trader town, a ... Read our complete Battambang travel guide

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