Ep 152: ASEAN's New Era of Travel Infrastructure, with James Clark, Future South East Asia

What’s it like to ride the China-Laos train? Will Vietnam’s North-South Railway get built? When will the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail line open? And is a pan-ASEAN rail network a realistic possibility?

This week, Gary assesses the outlook for rail infrastructure development across the region with James Clark, Editor-in-Chief at Future South East Asia and author of the Nomadic Notes newsletter. We look at some of the big railway projects being planned, compare the rail network models in China and South East Asia and ponder what could be the impacts for domestic aviation.

James also discusses his recent travels in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam - and provides some interesting observations about air and rail travel in this unfolding new era.

Join us for a fascinating 30-minute trip with an inveterate digital nomad through South East Asia, taking in Hanoi, Vientiane, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kampot en route.

The following articles are referenced in the podcast:

• Notes on Kampot: There’s been a vibe shift
• Notes on Kep: Fake beaches, ruined villas, crabs, and a cold cafe of Cambodia