According to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the railway line connecting Bangkok, Thailand and Vientiane, Laos will officially operate from July 19. The first train will depart from Bangkok's central station at 9:25 p.m. and is expected to arrive at Khamsavath station in Vientiane at 9:05 a.m. the following day. This new railway line marks an extension of the previous Bangkok-Nong Khai route, making it easier for travelers to travel between the two capitals.
According to the report, when arriving at Vientiane station, passengers can use public transport services that have been prepared for tourists such as trucks, tricycles and taxis to facilitate the journey to the capital Vientiane, a distance of about 7 - 9 km, tourists can travel to China by the Laos - China railway at Vientiane train station.
The railway connecting the two capitals of Thailand and Laos has been put into operation.
Initially, the 133rd express train on the Bangkok Thep Aphiwat – Vientiane (Khamsawat) route will provide the same service as the Bangkok Thep – Nongkhai route with a length of 614 km, serving 6 trips per day (round trip); visitors can visit famous tourist destinations in the capital Vientiane or choose to continue taking the Laos – China express train to other tourist destinations in Laos and China.
Ticket prices are currently not updated and are expected to be announced on the official opening day.
The network is expected to not only connect logistics and trade, but also boost tourism along Thailand and Laos, and connect further to southern China via the Laos-China high-speed train.
The Laos-China high-speed railway, which began operations in December 2021, is a route for Thai goods to cross the border into Laos, from where they are transported to the southern Chinese city of Kunming. The 1,000-kilometer railway has reduced delivery times from Laos to China to just 15 hours, compared to two days by truck along the mountainous route to China.
This event also connects tourism and trade between Thailand and China with the new Laos-China high-speed train route that opened on April 13, 2023, attracting more than 960,000 visitors, of which 222,000 were cross-border visitors from 96 countries.
The inauguration of the Thailand-Laos-China high-speed railway marks a significant milestone in the history of regional cooperation. It is a testament to the joint efforts of the three countries in promoting economic development, trade and tourism.
