You have got to try the bamboo train if you are in Battambang, Cambodia. This is the symbol, icon of you will of Cambodia’s second largest city. Sure, it is makeshift, and yes, it may look quite random, but it serves its purpose of taking people from Point A to Point B in times faster than traditional forms of transportation. Dare to try?

First, what is the bamboo train? Sometimes called the norry, it is an improvised rail vehicle that travels on the traditional train tracks. The main frame is made of bamboo and is nothing more than a planks supported by a steel frame. A motorcycle or tractor engine provides the horsepower and a mat serves as a luxury seat for passengers. The trains run at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

So, why were they built in the first place? Simple, to provide an alternative form of transport against the already existing government-run rail system. They are poor at best. Trains are reported to run at walking speeds and service is infrequent, if unreliable at all. So, in comes the bamboo train. Despite their elementary design, the broken and warped state of the rails and lack of any formal operating regime, they still prove a trendy way of moving around. Fares are low, which also helps with their popularity.

Now, there’s just one problem. What happens if two trains are approaching? Yes, the simplest answer is the most logical one; a train will have to turn off its engine, disassemble, move over to the side, let that other train go, reassemble on the tracks, turn on the engine and continue on. And the circumstance is simple. The train with the least amount of passengers/cargo needs to move over for the train with more. And the conductor of the other train will more than gladly help, speeding the dismantling process to less than a minute! Very impressive!

Exotissimo’s Battambang Escape tour is the perfect introduction to Cambodia’ second largest city complete with visits to its main sites, experiences with the local villagers and of course, a ride on the bamboo train. Try it. It’s fun, safe, and certainly a unique experience. See our Cambodia tours page for more adventures and memorable journeys into the country.

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