The State Railway of Thailand will soon introduce a new service all the way between Bangkok and the Laotian capital Vientiane. Trials of the service will get underway next month, with the service expected to launch in April.
The service is expected to start from the Thanaleng station just over the border in Laos, travelling to Vientiane’s new Khamsavath station. From April, the service would be extended, according to Pichet Kunadhamraks from the Department of Rail Transport.
Pichet says the SRT already runs trains to Thanaleng from Nong Khai station in northeast Thailand. The section from Thanaleng to Khamsavath would be the final step. The fare is expected to be around 60 – 70 baht, for a journey taking 20 minutes.
The Bangkok Post reports that immigration and document checks would only be required once, either in Nong Khai or in Vientiane. At Nong Khai station, a train driver from Laos would take over from a Thai driver for the journey to Vientiane. This would be to prevent Thai train drivers from being prosecuted in Laos in the event of an accident. There are currently 9 Lao train drivers trained by the SRT for this purpose.
The Bangkok to Nong Khai service, which leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal will be renamed the Bangkok to Vientiane (Khamsavath) service once it launches.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
