Conference Agenda

Cross-border railway connectivity is often examined from an infrastructure perspective, with emphasis placed on the construction of railway links between countries. However, international rail services also require train path allocation mechanisms to coordinate the use of railway infrastructure across national boundaries. This suggests that physical connectivity alone is insufficient to support cross-border rail operations and must be complemented by mechanisms that facilitate operational coordination among multiple countries. This study therefore investigates cross-border railway corridors to examine how corridor-specific characteristics influence international train path allocation arrangements and to explore policy implications for the development of the Malaysia-Thailand-Laos corridor.

This study adopts a multiple case study approach. Case studies were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: the existence of regular commercial cross-border rail services, identifiable train path allocation mechanisms, and sufficient reference materials. The selected cases were then compared using four factors expected to influence train path allocation arrangements: track gauge compatibility, the number of infrastructure managers, institutional frameworks, and transport type.

The findings identify two principal models of international train path allocation: (1) allocation coordinated by a central entity across the entire corridor, and (2) allocation based on cooperation between neighboring countries. The study further finds that the choice of allocation model is shaped by the interaction among the continuity of cross-border rail operations, infrastructure governance structures, and institutional frameworks governing international cooperation. These factors influence the extent to which train path allocation can be coordinated across an entire corridor or must be managed through segmented arrangements.

The Malaysia-Thailand-Laos corridor exhibits varying operational characteristics across its segments, particularly with respect to the continuity of cross-border rail operations and transshipment requirements. As a result, train path allocation is more likely to be managed on a segmented basis rather than through a corridor-wide allocation mechanism. The findings suggest that train path allocation models adopted in other cross-border railway corridors may not be directly transferable to this corridor and that a coordination framework tailored to its specific operational context is required. This study contributes to a better understanding of the factors shaping international train path allocation arrangements and provides a foundation for developing coordination mechanisms suited to the unique characteristics of the Malaysia-Thailand-Laos corridor.