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Boten – Vientiane (China-Laos) railway – travel information and news

October 22, 2019 By James Clark 8 Comments

Laos Railways - Information on the Boten - Vientiane Railway

The Boten – Vientiane Railway (also referred to as the China-Laos Railway) is set to open on 2 December 2021, making it the first passenger railway in Laos.

The line will initially be used for freight services, and passenger services will begin once the Covid-19 situation is under control and borders are reopened.

This page will be updated when more information about passenger services becomes known.

Map of Laos Railways


Map of Boten – Vientiane Railway

Current Laos Railways

Boten – Vientiane

Railway construction near Luang Prabang

Website: http://www.lcrc.ltd/
Facebook: Laos – China Railway Company Limited

The Boten – Vientiane railway (the China-Laos railway) is 414.332 kilometres, of which there are 258.5 kilometres of bridges and tunnels.

The railway is standard gauge (same as China and Europe) and will be electric trains. The line is on a single track with passing loops. Trains will have a maximum speed of 160 kph between Boten and Vang Vieng, and 200 kph between Vang Vieng and Vientiane. Cargo trains will be able to travel at 120 kph.

There are 21 stations planned, with another 12 built in the future:

1. Boten
2. Nateuy
3. Na Mor
4. Muong Xai 
5. Ban NakhokTay
6. Huoi Phoulai
7. Luang Prabang
8. XiengNgeun
9. Ban Sen
10. Kasi
11. Ban BuaPheouk
12. Pha Tang
13. Vang Vieng
14. Ban VangMon
15. Vang Khi
16. Hin Hoeup
17. Phonhong
18. Ban Sakha
19. Ban Phonh Sung
20. Vientiane Neua – (Vientiane North)
21. Vientiane Tay – (Vientiane Main Station)

The train from China would be express, stopping at:

Boten (immigration)
Muong Xai (provincial capital of Oudomxay province)
Luang Prabang
Vang Vieng
Vientiane

There will also be a local service that stops at all stations, and this will be offered at a cheaper rate than the express service. This would be like the local rail services in Europe.

Nong Khai (Thailand) – Thanaleng (Laos)

Laos Railways
[Thanaleng Station.]

The Nong Khai – Thanaleng railway is an extension of the Bangkok to Nong Khai railway. This 4km railway is operated by Thai State Railways to Thanaleng, and from Thanaleng there are waiting minivans to complete the trip to Vientiane.

Here is my trip report on how to get from Bangkok to Vientiane by train.

Southeast Asia Railways

Read more about Southeast Asia rail travel, and current and proposed railways in Southeast Asia.

Filed Under: Travel Blog Tagged With: laos, railway, southeast asia rail

Comments

  1. Ryan Biddulph says

    June 15, 2018 at 12:32 pm

    James this will be SO welcome. Especially since I visited Laos a while back. Busing was a bit rough in the country. The overall system was OK but some long stretches of road were in rough shape. Although folks who sell shock absorbers to buses in Laos must be billionaires by now LOL. Rocking post dude.

    Reply
  2. Aster says

    June 15, 2018 at 12:48 pm

    Lots of research done for this post…Thank you James for the updated info on Lao Railways.

    Reply
  3. Lena Light says

    June 16, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    SAD… now the millions of folks from China can journey to picturesque little towns like Luang Prabang and it will be overrun and completely ruined.

    Reply
  4. john Louie natividad says

    November 22, 2018 at 2:14 am

    how to apply to rail ways in laos

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      November 22, 2018 at 6:56 am

      There is no official website yet.

      Reply
  5. karen marshall says

    January 11, 2019 at 11:16 pm

    Tragic that Laos has had to get into so much debt (300 billion i read) so that China can bully their way through the country; China direct to the oil in the ocean, dont care who gets in the way!! Laos will never be the same again. I first went in 2001 and they were just getting their heads around going on buses on Highway 13. How many Laos people will be ever travelling on the train? Thanks for the upto date info. The bridge between Thailand and Vietnam bet they love that too…even the music on that video scared me. SE Asia will be undoubtedly now almos be a Chinese state.

    Reply
  6. Mike Boddington says

    July 3, 2019 at 10:03 am

    James
    Announced yesterday that there will be a 7.5 km railway from Thanalaeng to Ban Khamsavath, as Vientiane City’s station.
    http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/02/c_138192062.htm

    The article describes it as ‘…link the existing suburban station to central Vientiane …’ Ban Khamsavath is halfway between the existing Thanalaeng station and central Vientiane.

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      July 4, 2019 at 3:55 am

      Thanks Mike, I’ve updated the post!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m James Clark, and I've been travelling the world since 2003 while running a location independent travel business. Nomadic Notes is a travel blog featuring travel guides and notes from my travels.

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