Transport in Laos#Railways

Rail transport in Laos is currently only a short segment of the rail line Nong Khai - Thanaleng.

History

Rail transport in Laos was initiated by the former French colonial power. This built

  • One opened in 1897, 7 km long narrow gauge railway from Don Det to Don Khon. She was in operation until 1941 and served to avoid a section of the Mekong River, which was not passable by rapids for ships. Even today, old tracks, one used only by pedestrians and a picturesque bridge in the scrub stainless to himself locomotive of this project.
  • At a railway Tan Ap - Thakhek. It was begun from both ends in topographically extremely difficult terrain beginning from 1929/30. 16 km and of Ap Tan (Vietnam) From Thakhek (Laos ) were from 18 km ahead (of total planned 186 km). The heads of the two sites were connected by a 42 km long cable car. The construction of the railway were set in 1937. The Japanese occupation force during the Second World War was considering to complete the route for its own purposes. But that did not.

During the Second World War, the railway infrastructure was destroyed in Laos. The railroad has since no longer used.

Active railway

Today there is again an active railway in Laos, which leads from the Thai Nong Khai via the Friendship Bridge spanning the Mekong to Laos Station Thanaleng. After the plan, the route to continue building in the capital of Vientiane, was first given in 2010, the Thai government has agreed in July 2012 to finance the 7.8 km long extension to Vientiane, which is to be completed by 2014.

Regular passenger was taken end of March 2009 and will be carried out by the Thai State Railway. Daily train two pairs of trains. In addition, in February 2010 reversed occasionally the Eastern and Oriental Express via this route. There is no separate Lao railway transport companies.

Rail projects

Quick route Kunming - Singapore

According to press reports, the construction work should begin on a high-speed connection from southern China to Vientiane in April 2011. However, the information provided by them is very credible, both in terms of construction time and referred to the driving speed. After more than 400 km of track construction per year and travel speeds of over 400 km / h would be provided.

Railway Thailand - Vietnam

Another project is a 215 km long transit connection in Central Laos from the Thai border town of Mukdahan on the west bank of the Mekong River on the opposite Laotian border town of Savannakhet on the east bank of the Mekong to the Vietnamese border at Lao Bảo from where a connection to the port of Da is planned Nẵng.

Other Projects

Next in the pipeline are the routes

  • Vientiane - Luang Prabang - messenger ( Chinese border ) - 530 km
  • Messengers ( Chinese border ) - Ban Houayxay ( Thai border ) - 230km
  • Vientiane - Thakhek - Pakse - 702 km
  • Luang Prabang - Xiang Khuang - Vietnam - 298 km
  • Pakxan - Xiang Khuang - 123 km
  • Thakhek - Mu Gia Pass ( Vietnamese border ) - 155 km
  • Na Pong - Salavan - La Lai Deo ( Vietnamese border ) - 215 km
France Colonial empire Thanaleng Railway Station
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