Trial runs for the new Vientiane link are set to start in July, with the journey to Beijing via Laos expected to take nearly a full day.

Thailand is progressing towards establishing a train route from Bangkok to Beijing, expanding its rail network. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans trial services between Bangkok and Vientiane on July 13 and 14. Once operational, this new link will enhance transportation between Thailand, Laos, and China, as highlighted by Ekarat Sriarayanphong, head of the SRT governor’s office.

The launch of the Thailand-Laos connection, facilitated by a new short link from Nong Khai, will enable travelers to journey from Bangkok to Beijing via stops in Vientiane and Kunming, a southern Chinese city offering a separate semi-high-speed service to the Chinese capital.

Covering approximately 3,200 kilometers, the route includes challenging mountainous terrain, resulting in an almost day-long travel time. This compares to just under five hours for a direct flight.

A high-speed train already operates between China and Laos, providing a route for Thai goods to reach Kunming by rail. According to a Nikkei report, this development has reduced delivery times to China from two days, typical for truck transport along mountainous routes, to just 15 hours.

Thailand aims to enhance connectivity with China, its primary trading partner, to bloster economic growth, which currently lags behind that of neighboring countries in the region.

Source: Bangkok Post
Photo Cr.:Caixin Global