Railway operator warns of need to comply with safety rules

The Laos-China Railway Company Ltd. has warned people living along the railway to comply with strict safety rules to ensure the safe operation of train services.
The company spelled out the rules on safety at the weekend, saying rail safety is a priority for the people of Laos and China when the Laos-China Railway comes into service on December 2.
The authority reported that a man died on Sunday when he was electrocuted while cutting cables on a section of the railway in Naxaithong district, Vientiane.
 It is essential that the provision of electricity to the power supply system and cables along the railway line takes place regularly and steadily, and proper care is

necessary to ensure safety after the railway opens, the company stated.
High-voltage power cables have been installed along the length of the railway and are currently being tested.
This means that all the cables and equipment connected to the railway will be electrified. The overhead transmission line will have a voltage of up to 27.5 kV which is extremely dangerous and if touched for only 3-4 seconds may cause immediate death.
The company has warned everyone to be careful and not to approach the railway within a distance of 2 metres.
The destruction of railway equipment and materials not only endangers the safety of the railway, but can also lead to life-threatening electrical shocks, the operator warned.
Electrification of equipment on the railway began in August, while electrification of the mains supply system is taking place from the beginning of October onwards.
 To ensure that the railway can open as scheduled and to ensure the safety of people and operation of the railway, the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. has issued the following rules:
1. It is strictly forbidden to steal cables and wiring along the railway and any equipment related to the power supply system and other electrical installations. If this occurs, the party concerned will pay for all damages and will be handed over to the relevant legal authorities for prosecution.
2. If anyone learns that electrical equipment on the railway has been stolen, destroyed or damaged by fire, the matter must immediately be reported to staff at the nearest station or the police officer in charge of railway safety.
3. Do not throw objects onto the overhead power supply. Do not urinate on the transmission line near a railway bridge.
4. It is strictly forbidden to release kites, balloons and other objects that can float in the air within 500 metres on both sides of the power supply line.
5. Do not climb on electricity poles along the railway or install equipment on these poles.
6. Do not dig, dig piles, or release sewage, dump garbage or other objects that may endanger the safety of the railway within 20 metres of electricity poles and do not pull the cables and wires around the railway tracks.
7. It is strictly forbidden to touch the overhead power supply along the railway.
8. If you find a broken power supply cable and its parts are damaged or the end of a power cord, rope and other objects are hanging on the power supply, it is strictly forbidden to touch them and a safe distance of at least 10 metres should be maintained. Any abnormalities should be promptly reported to staff at the nearest station.
9. It is strictly forbidden to burn grass or trees, release livestock, or plant crops or trees within the security of the railway corridor, as this could affect the safety of the tracks and the running of trains.
Persons who are not railway personnel are strictly prohibited from entering the railings of the railway and railway substations, and to play with animals or stand in the rain on the railway.
11. Non-railway personnel are strictly prohibited from entering buildings that control the electrical system. Do not touch switches or buttons to avoid interfering with the operation of equipment and leading to problems with the safety of the train and individuals.

By Phomphong Laoin
  (Latest Update October 19, 2021)