Royal Railway ‘not terminated’: PM

02 Apr 2019 2128 | Cambodia Travel News

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday backtracked on a previous statement saying the government will end Royal Railway’s contract managing the country’s railroads.

Mr Hun Sen announced Friday that Royal Railway’s contract will be terminated after below-par performance from the company, but yesterday the premier said his words had been misunderstood and issued a clarification.

“I previously said that Royal Railway will no longer manage the railroads and that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport will start negotiating with Oknha Kith Meng,” he said, referring to the chairman of Royal Group, the parent company of Royal Railway.

“I didn’t mention a specific date as to when the contract will end, however,” the premier said.

“People misunderstood me last time because my comments were unclear. That’s why I instructed the minister of public works to clarify the situation.

“The truth is that the government is unable to assume control of the train system at the moment. Goods are being loaded and unloaded from the trains as we speak and hundreds of employees are working – how could we possibly take over the management at once?

“If we rush to assume control, we could face a crisis,” he said.

Mr Hun Sen said the government’s goal is to reform and modernise the railway system, making the two lines run more efficiently.

“There is no new company to replace Royal Railway. This means Royal Railway will continue to operate as usual,” he said.

Mr Hun Sen said the real problem was that Royal Railway no longer had an international partner, after Australia-owned Toll Hold sold its stake in the venture.

He said the government will find Royal Railway a new partner that can help it improve the railway system.

“Now, we have to find a new company that can partner up with Royal Railway and who is able to invest capital into the railroad system to improve both lines,” he said.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport on Sunday issued a letter informing the public and Royal Railway employees that the company will continue operations as usual on the southern line and that the ministry needed more time to study the legal framework and other technical issues before assuming control of the railroad system.