The Phnom Penh Municipal Department of Public Works and Transport, in cooperation with Royal Railway Cambodia, has announced that to ensure public safety, it will remove the train tracks embedded in the concrete road in front of Phnom Penh International Airport. A public outcry about the danger the slippery tracks present followed a July 3 accident which led to the death of a young female medical student.
The day the accident, Koy Sodany, secretary of state at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, led a working group to inspect the scene, on Street 105K, in Kakab II commune of the capital’s Por Senchey district.
The ministry explained that the 1.5-kilometre rail line was originally built to link the airport to the main rail line. It was built directly on Street 105K, but will now be removed.
“As a result of today’s inspection, the Phnom Penh Department of Public Works and Transport, in cooperation with Royal Railway Cambodia, will remove the railway tracks and repave the road,” said a ministry statement.
“To ensure public safety on this route, the working group will collaborate day and night to complete the work as quickly as possible,” it added.
Phnom Penh public works department director Sam Piseth, technical officers from the Department of Railways and representatives from Royal Railway Camboda also joined today’s inspection tour.
The team also examined two railway crossings at the Kobsrov embankment road where frequent accidents have occurred. Royal Railway has agreed to improve the gradient and surfaces of both.
