Cambodian and Thai leaders mark reopening of rail link

The leaders of Cambodia and Thailand have met to mark the ceremonial reopening of a rail link that will restore train service between the two countries after more than four decades. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart, Prayuth Chan-ocha, took a brief train ride Monday across the border from Thailand’s Aranyaprathet to Cambodia’s Poipet to celebrate the occasion. Each also shoveled some cement to mark the completion of a nearby cross-border bridge for automotive traffic. Thai officials said regular cross-border rail service is expected to be restored soon. The two leaders signed an agreement on operating the cross-border rail link. Service between the two countries was suspended in the early 1970s when the track was destroyed during Cambodia’s civil war.