Riding a bamboo train


On a lazy afternoon i decided to take a tour to the touristic attractions that Battambang has to offer. I visited a place where you could ride a part of the abandoned tracks that once went to Phnom Penh from what was once the central train station of Battambang. The ride is a little different from a regular train ride though.

The locals have invented a method where you’d sit atop a bamboo platform that is basically laid down on the axles. A small engine powers the rear axle. The ride is quite fast and as you sit right beyond the tracks, it feels even faster.

Previously this method was used to transport goods. Today it’s only left for the tourists and is suspected to disappear once the original tracks are restored.

Interesting side effect of the single track connection. When you have someone coming from the opposite direction, one cart is disassembled within seconds and shifted aside the tracks. After the crossing is over, the other driver helps to put the loosing cart back on track.