Battambang’s two bamboo trains: traditional norry or Banan railway?

Understand the difference between Battambang’s traditional bamboo train and the purpose-built Banan attraction before choosing a ride.

In Cambodia

The traditional norry experience

The original attraction grew from the norry: a small, motor-powered platform running on railway tracks. Historical reporting describes the traditional route near Battambang using a single line, with platforms lifted aside when vehicles meet. This is the railway-based experience that many travellers have in mind when they ask for the original bamboo train. Its history does not establish today's operating hours or guarantee unrestricted access to the railway. Ask the operator which section is currently used and how the ride is managed.

The purpose-built railway near Banan

A second attraction uses a dedicated tourism railway near Phnom Banan. The Phnom Penh Post reported its opening in January 2018, placing the inauguration at the end of 2017. Although often called the new bamboo train, this attraction has a history extending back to the end of 2017. The name appears as Banan or Banon in travel material. This is a separate site from the traditional route near town, so the transfer and the surrounding activities are different.

What we can and cannot confirm

Published reporting supports the distinction between the traditional railway route and the purpose-built Banan site. Robert's local account also distinguishes their track arrangements. However, we have not independently verified the current length, a complete loop, or the exact number and arrangement of tracks at the newer attraction. We deliberately leave those measurements unconfirmed. Ask for a recent map or photo if the circuit layout matters to your choice; a shared name or an old photograph is not enough.

Five questions before accepting a quote

Ask: which bamboo-train site is included; where exactly will we board; is the ride operating on our date; is the ticket included in the transport price; and what happens if it is unavailable? Request the location in a message that you can show your driver. If a provider changes the plan, ask whether the replacement is the other bamboo train and whether the total price changes. You can enjoy either attraction, but you should be choosing knowingly rather than discovering the substitution after arrival.

Build a day around your choice

For a Banan outing, consider the temple and the train as two activities with separate tickets, access conditions and physical demands. For the traditional route, allow time to return to the city rather than assuming a distant Banan stop is automatically included. Avoid crowding a fixed training session or evening performance against an uncertain return time. Before boarding, check seating, how belongings are secured and whether the ride suits everyone in your group. Neither railway should be presented as a public intercity transport service.