The Bangkok-Nong Khai train service operated by the State Railway of Thailand is set to be extended to reach Vientiane in April. The Department of Rail Transport announced that trains will begin operating from the Thanaleng station in Laos to the new Khamsavath station in Vientiane next month in preparation for the extended service.
Currently, the SRT operates trains from the Nong Khai station in Thailand to Thanaleng. The final step will be the 7.5-kilometer line from Thanaleng to Khamsavath. The Nong Khai station is located 13 kilometers from the Khamsavath station, and the fare is expected to be around 60-70 baht, with a trip duration of approximately 20 minutes.
Thai and Lao authorities are collaborating on the details of immigration procedures for the extended service. It is anticipated that document checks will only be required once, either in Nong Khai or Vientiane.
To avoid Thai drivers being prosecuted in Laos in the event of accidents, Lao train drivers will take over the SRT’s Vientiane-bound trains at the Nong Khai station. The SRT has already trained nine Lao drivers for this purpose.
Once the extended service begins, the Bangkok-Nong Khai train service will be renamed the Bangkok-Vientiane (Khamsavath) service.
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