Half of track now laid for Laos-China railway

Luang Prabang province: Half of the track needed for the Laos-China railway has been laid over a distance of 240 kilometres, between Vientiane and Luang Prabang province.
An event to mark this milestone in the construction of the railway took place at the Luang Prabang railway station on Tuesday.
Present on the occasion were the Deputy Governor of Luang Prabang province, Mr Soukan Bounyong, Deputy General Manager of the Laos-China Railway Company, Mr Wang Yong Shun, and railway staff.
Following the laying of track from Vientiane to Vientiane province and Luang Prabang province, the remaining half would be laid from Luang Prabang to

Oudomxay and Luang Namtha provinces and the Chinese border.
Speaking at the event, Mr Soukan said “The Laos-China railway is a strategically important cooperation project between our two countries and strengthens the relationship between Laos and China.”
“The railway is not only a boost to economic development and job creation, but also supports cooperation in economic fields, culture, and tourism.” 
Mr Wang Yong Shun said that all of the tunnels and bridges along the railway are complete, while the construction of stations is progressing well with all of the roofs now in place.
There are 10 stations where passengers can board the train and disembark - in Vientiane, Phonhong, Vangvieng, Kasy, Luang Prabang, Nga, Xay, Namor, Natuey, and Boten, according to company.  There are also 22 stations for the loading and unloading of freight.
The 422.4-km railway, which connects Vientiane to the Chinese border, traverses the provinces of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Luang Namtha, passing through 75 tunnels with a combined length of 197.83km, according to the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. 
Construction of the US$5.986 billion (37.4 billion yuan) railway began in December 2016. It is scheduled to be complete and open for use in December 2021.
The Laos-China railway is a strategic part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Lao government’s plan to transform Laos from being a landlocked country to a land link within the region.
When it is operational, the railway will cut the cost of transport through northwestern Laos by 30-40 percent compared to transport by road.
The railway runs from the Boten border crossing in northern Laos, bordering China, to Vientiane, with trains running at a maximum speed of 160km per hour. The government is confident the railway will spur socio-economic development and enable Laos to make greater progress.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update December 30, 2020)