by Tano » Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:25 pm
OK.
It took 2.5 hours to get to Kampot where the train stayed for around 15 minutes. There were two passenger carriages that left SHV, one was empty, bar a three person Khmer family and me. They told me it was their first train journey. The carriage had three aircon units (was near chilly), a small flat screen TV with Charlie Chaplin movies all the way, a toilet at the back. All announcements are in Khmer only, with a nice reverberator effect. The seats are upholstered in fake leather, but are very small by Western standards, nowhere to rest your head or arms.
I spend half the journey swinging my feet over the ground, while sitting on the floor at the open door. Have done it in other countries, where else, but SE Asia? The conductor (yes, there is one) told me it's not allowed and proceded to ignore this blatent violation.
Kampot was a bit more lively, with a small crowd getting on board. Not much in terms of selling snacks, two or three street vendors, that was all:
This is Kampot station from inside, with the train in the background:
Now, for transporting a bike... here is what the cargo carriage looks like, on arrival in PP:
You'd have to ride it up the platform to load. In PP it's pretty low, so easy. In SHV the damn thing is high, make sure you don't ride up and come out the other side through the wall and onto the ground LOL.
The train stops in Kampot and Takeo. Nowhere else so far. It travelled reasonably fast in places, and in others - chgging along slowly, especially when approaching PP. Most major level crossings are manned (literally, with a man lifting the barrier), while small ones are just that - small and empty, no barriers.
All in all, it was a pleasant experience, if a tad lengthy, and an alternative to returning to PP by bike.
OK.
It took 2.5 hours to get to Kampot where the train stayed for around 15 minutes. There were two passenger carriages that left SHV, one was empty, bar a three person Khmer family and me. They told me it was their first train journey. The carriage had three aircon units (was near chilly), a small flat screen TV with Charlie Chaplin movies all the way, a toilet at the back. All announcements are in Khmer only, with a nice reverberator effect. The seats are upholstered in fake leather, but are very small by Western standards, nowhere to rest your head or arms.
I spend half the journey swinging my feet over the ground, while sitting on the floor at the open door. Have done it in other countries, where else, but SE Asia? The conductor (yes, there is one) told me it's not allowed and proceded to ignore this blatent violation.
[url=http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/Registerus/media/Lands%20and%20Places/Cambodia/27.06.16%20Cambodia%20Sihanoukville%20Trip%20163_zpswmkke3ku.jpg.html][img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r637/Registerus/Lands%20and%20Places/Cambodia/27.06.16%20Cambodia%20Sihanoukville%20Trip%20163_zpswmkke3ku.jpg[/img][/url]
Kampot was a bit more lively, with a small crowd getting on board. Not much in terms of selling snacks, two or three street vendors, that was all:
[url=http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/Registerus/media/Lands%20and%20Places/Cambodia/27.06.16%20Cambodia%20Sihanoukville%20Trip%20183_zpsv3bjztiq.jpg.html][img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r637/Registerus/Lands%20and%20Places/Cambodia/27.06.16%20Cambodia%20Sihanoukville%20Trip%20183_zpsv3bjztiq.jpg[/img][/url]
This is Kampot station from inside, with the train in the background:
[url=http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/Registerus/media/Lands%20and%20Places/Cambodia/27.06.16%20Cambodia%20Sihanoukville%20Trip%20182_zpsbdatuomc.jpg.html][img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r637/Registerus/Lands%20and%20Places/Cambodia/27.06.16%20Cambodia%20Sihanoukville%20Trip%20182_zpsbdatuomc.jpg[/img][/url]
Now, for transporting a bike... here is what the cargo carriage looks like, on arrival in PP:
[url=http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/Registerus/media/Lands%20and%20Places/Cambodia/27.06.16%20Cambodia%20Sihanoukville%20Trip%20187_zpske5epobm.jpg.html][img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r637/Registerus/Lands%20and%20Places/Cambodia/27.06.16%20Cambodia%20Sihanoukville%20Trip%20187_zpske5epobm.jpg[/img][/url]
You'd have to ride it up the platform to load. In PP it's pretty low, so easy. In SHV the damn thing is high, make sure you don't ride up and come out the other side through the wall and onto the ground LOL.
The train stops in Kampot and Takeo. Nowhere else so far. It travelled reasonably fast in places, and in others - chgging along slowly, especially when approaching PP. Most major level crossings are manned (literally, with a man lifting the barrier), while small ones are just that - small and empty, no barriers.
All in all, it was a pleasant experience, if a tad lengthy, and an alternative to returning to PP by bike.