Cambodia restores rail link with Thailand after 45 years

The Asian Development Bank provided $ 13 million in 2009 to rebuild the missing link that aims to reduce travel time between the two countries and boost trade.

Cambodian transport personnel on arrival at Phnom Penh railway station Wednesday. (AFP Photo)

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia reopened Wednesday the last stretch of a railway from the capital Phnom Penh to the border with neighboring Thailand, the first time that the line has been operational for 45 years. The development bank provided $ 13 million in 2009 to rebuild the missing link that aims to reduce travel time between the two countries and boost trade. The last stretch of the track between the two countries will be completed

"This is a historic day for our nation," said Sun Chanthol.

Cambodia and Thailand have yet to reach an agreement on the passage of the Border trains, but Sun Chanthol said the two countries hoped to reach an agreement soon.

Much of the Cambodian railways – built by the French during their colonial occupation – were damaged by years of bitter conflict. Part of 48 km of railway near the border town of Poipet was destroyed by the war in 1973.

The rest of the connection to Phnom Penh was suspended for over

The country of ?? Southeast Asia has more than 600 kilometers of railroad tracks extending from its northern border with Thailand to the south coast