Southeast Asia has more than 1 billion train passengers per year and over 20,000 km of railway lines, based on ASEAN Secretariat data. This includes local, regional and long-distance trains but excludes metros or MRTs. Southeast Asian airports handled about 800 million passengers per year prior to the pandemic and are now again approaching pre-COVID levels. However, less than 1% of these passengers connect to trains. Airport train stops are relatively uncommon in Southeast Asia compared to other regions.
There is only one Southeast Asian airport with a long-distance train stop – Bangkok Don Mueang. About a dozen airports in Southeast Asia have rail connections to the city but the airport train often terminates at a different station than long distance trains, impeding connectivity. There are several examples where passenger train lines are adjacent to airports – or even pass the passenger terminal – but there are no active airport stops.
Southeast Asia would benefit from more and better airport-rail connections. Improved airport-city rail connectivity is critical in reducing road congestion and the impact on the environment. However, new or improved rail connections from airports to regional destinations could have a bigger impact as they would provide an alternative both to buses or cars and short-haul flights.
