Thailand is accelerating its rail connection with China-Laos Railway

Bangkok, 25 October 2021 – The Ministry of Transport is accelerating Thailand’s rail connection with the China-Laos Railway, which links Vientiane, the capital of Laos, with Kunming in China’s Yunnan province.

The China-Laos rail line is scheduled to open on 2 December 2021 and is expected to help increase border trade in the north-eastern province of Nong Khai and promote Thailand’s tourism. It will connect with the China-Thailand high-speed railway project.

The first phase of the China-Thailand high-speed railway project is for the 253-km section between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima. It is scheduled to be in service by 2026. The second phase is for the 356-km section between Nakhon Ratchasima and Nong Khai and is expected to open for public service in 2028.

The rail connection will also promote more trade and tourism between Thailand and China. It could be further developed into regional hubs, linking with other ASEAN transport networks.

The State Railway of Thailand is preparing to arrange train services to accommodate more goods transport between Nong Khai and Vientiane and provide other facilities for the transhipment yard and the X-ray container scanning system in order to facilitate the one-stop service operations.

Thailand is also planning to build a new Thai-Lao friendship bridge over the Mekong River for the railway, about 30 metres from the existing Thai-Lao friendship bridge.

– Construction+ Online

Source: Thai Government PR Department