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As the official passenger service runs only once a week locals in the area of Cambodia's second city of Battambang have set up their own system to utilise the railway track to provide both passenger and freight services. This is known as the Bamboo Railway.  It is manned by teenagers (or younger) and has a variety of types of vehicles. This railway provides an essential, low cost, service to locals.

This is the most common type of vehicle, basically a small petrol engine driving a pulley belt mounted on a metal frame with a bamboo floor. Note the carpet for Business Class travellers!

Seen 12Km south of Battambang on December 24, 2006

Loading up with passengers and freight

Note the wheelbarrow handles on the ends of the vehicle, these are to lift the vehicle off the track should anything come in the opposite direction. The rule is that the lightest weight vehicle gives way to heavier ones.

Fire-wood ready to be loaded onto the next "Lorry"

Riding the line.

These vehicles run at much higher speeds than anything on the official railway (up to 40Km/hr) and with nothing to hold onto, an uneven track and no springs it would make a good ride at Disneyland

A completely different motorbike and side-car variant with a long load of timber on December 24, 2006

Bamboo Railway apprentice on the main line at Battambang North on December 26, 2006

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Page last updated : Sunday January 07, 2007 21:08

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