PHNOM PENH, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's passenger train services resumed regular operations between Poipet and Serey Sophorn in northern Banteay Meanchey province on Wednesday after a 45-year hiatus, Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol said.
The railway service runs a total of 48 km from Poipet bordering Thailand to Serey Sophorn with four stops, he said, adding that the train's average speed is 40 km per hour.
"This is the first time in 45 years that the train services between Poipet and Serey Sophorn have resumed after this rail track was destroyed during the wartime," he said.
The rehabilitation of the 48-km stretch cost more than 21 million U.S. dollars, the minister said.
He added that the new rail service will be free of charge to passengers from April 4 to July 31, so as to introduce this new service to the public.
Meanwhile, Chanthol said the ongoing rehabilitation of the 385-km rail track between Poipet city and capital Phnom Penh was expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The Southeast Asian nation has two lines of railroads. The 266-km southern line connects Phnom Penh to the seaport of Sihanoukville, and the 385-km northern line runs from Phnom Penh to Poipet city.
The two lines, which had been built between 1929 and 1969, were damaged during decades of civil war.
In 2016, the passenger train services between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville resumed after a 14-year suspension due to poor railway conditions.
