Trains from Bangkok to Vientiane in Laos Expected to commence in April 2024

The Vientiane (Khamsavath) Railway Station is set to open in April 2024 for shuttle trains crossing over the border from Nong Khai. There are also plans for at least two trains a day to transport passengers all the way from Bangkok to Vientiane in Laos, with a fare of less than 300 baht for the cheapest ticket. All three classes of travel will be available.

UPDATED: The first train will run on 19th July 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: This is the metre-gauge line from Thailand. It has nothing to do with the high-speed line that is still under construction.

Pichet Khunatamruk, the Director-General of the Department of Rail Transportation (DRT), revealed in an interview with Daily News that the DRT will meet with the Laotian Ministry of Railways and other relevant agencies on 6th February 2024. The purpose of this meeting is to finalize regulations for rail travel between Thailand and Laos on the 7.5-kilometer section from Nalaeng to Vientiane (Khamsavath), which is an extension of the Nong Khai-Nalaeng railway line.

Following these discussions, trial runs are planned to commence from Nong Khai to Vientiane (Khamsavath) in February 2024. Though these will not be open to the public. The regular service is expected to begin in April 2024, with fares of 60-70 baht and a travel time of approximately 20 minutes.

According to Pichet, there are still unresolved issues regarding immigration procedures for passengers crossing the border from Thailand to Vientiane (Khamsavath). The ultimate goal is to streamline the process so that passengers are only stamped once, either in Nong Khai or Vientiane, Laos. Currently, passengers must undergo stamping in both Nong Khai, Thailand, and Vientiane, Laos.

Furthermore, Laotian train drivers will replace Thai train drivers at the Nong Khai station. Staff from the National Railways of Laos have already completed theoretical and practical training in locomotive driving and ticket sales, enabling them to operate immediately once the service begins.

Pichet mentioned that nine Laotian train drivers have been trained to drive Thai locomotives. These drivers will be responsible for operating trains between Nong Khai and Vientiane (Khamsavath), with a driver change occurring at Nong Khai station. The purpose of this change is to avoid potential legal issues. If a Thai train driver were to cause an accident or incident in Laos, they would be subject to Laotian law and would have to go through the court system in Laos.

According to Pichet, extending the rail service to Vientiane (Khamsavath) will greatly facilitate travel for Thai and foreign tourists from Bangkok to Vientiane by train. The current Bangkok-Nong Khai trains, which operate six round trips per day, will be converted to Bangkok-Vientiane (Khamsavath) service. Initially, there will be two round trips per day, offering all three classes of service.

Additionally, the local shuttle trains running between Nong Khai and Nalaeng will also be transformed into Nong Khai-Vientiane (Khamsavath) service, with four round trips per day.

Pichet further mentioned that upon arrival at the Vientiane (Khamsavath) station, passengers can conveniently access public transportation services provided by Laos, such as mini-vans, tuk-tuks, and taxis. This will enable passengers to easily reach the city center of Vientiane, which is approximately 7-9 kilometers away.

Source: https://www.facebook.com