Royal Railway runs Cambodia's passenger trains on two lines that start in Phnom Penh. Trains are slower than the bus, but they run to a fixed daily schedule at low fares and give an unhurried view of the lowlands on the way to the coast or to Battambang.
The Train Network in Cambodia
Royal Railway is the only train operator in Cambodia.[1] Two lines leave Phnom Penh: the northern line to Pursat and Battambang, and the southern line to Takeo, Kep, Kampot and Sihanoukville.[1] The passenger stations are Phnom Penh, Pursat, Mong Russei, Battambang, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Takeo.[1]Siem Reap and Poipet are not among them.
The booking system lists one train a day on each line. In the October 2026 listings the departures from Phnom Penh were 06:40 on the northern line to Battambang and 07:00 on the southern line.[2][3] Timetables can change, so check the booking page for your date.
The return trains in the same listings leave Sihanoukville at 14:00, Kep at 16:35, Takeo at 18:30 and Battambang at 15:00.[3][5][4][2] The train from Sihanoukville arrives in Phnom Penh at 20:36.[3]
Classes and Comfort Levels
The booking system sells two classes, Normal and First Class. On the southern line to Sihanoukville, first class costs $17 against $12 for normal class;[3] to Battambang it costs $15 against $10.[2] There are no sleeper services, because the journeys are day trips.
Booking and Tickets
Royal Railway sells tickets online through its booking partner at royalrailway.easybook.com, which is linked from the company's website.[1] You can also book by phone on +855 78 888 582 or +855 78 888 583, daily from 06:00 to 20:00.[1] The Phnom Penh station is the Central Railway Station on Russian Federation Boulevard.[3] You can compare trains with buses and ferries on GoAsia.cc before you decide.
Tips for Train Travel in Cambodia
Arrive early at the station. With a single train a day on each line, a missed train costs you a day, so be at the station well before departure.
Bring snacks and water. Stock up before boarding and bring a light layer in case the carriage is cool.
Manage expectations on speed. The train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville takes 6 hours 36 minutes,[3] while Giant Ibis lists 4 hours for the bus.[7] Choose the train for the ride, not for efficiency.
Check the schedule before you plan. Services can change, so confirm that your train is running on your date before you build an itinerary around it.
Be mindful during holidays. Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben are busy domestic travel periods, so book well ahead.
Combine the train with a ferry. Many travelers take the train to Sihanoukville and continue by boat to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem; Buva Sea runs speedboats from the mainland to both.[8]
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
[1]Royal Railway Cambodia: Passenger Train. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
