China-Laos-Thailand Railway
The China-Thailand railway project, which was signed and launched in 2021, is a high-quality joint construction and a “Belt and Road” flagship project between China and Thailand. The railway is Thailand’s first high-speed railway, and it is one of the first high-speed railway projects outside China that uses Chinese high-speed rail design standards and is funded by the host country itself, the company said in a statement to the Global Times.
China – Thailand Railway, or Sino – Thai Railway hasn’t been opened yet. The construction began in December, 2017. About 4 years are needed to complete this high speed rail project, by when it will run through three countries including China, Laos and Thailand. It will serve trains running between Kunming and Bangkok. In the far future, this China – Thailand railway project will be extended all the way to Singapore, shaping a high speed railway as long as 1,864 miles (3,000 km), namely Kunming – Singapore Railway.
Based on the latest developments of China – Thailand Railway, Thailand will complete the construction plan on time. The high-speed rail of Bangkok – Nong Khai will be officially put into use in 2023. By the end of October 2017, a total of 207 sites have been constructed. This project is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2021 and it will open to traffic in 2023.
A greater network
The China-Thailand railway will provide connectivity between Southeast Asian countries and China, and bring tangible benefits to the entire region, and at the same time inject new momentum into regional development, experts and business representatives have claimed.
Yunnan Easy Trans International Freight Forwarder Co, the logistic and trading company with business related to China-Laos Railway, is excited about the future launch of the railway connection upgrade in the region.
Since the China-Thailand railway project began in 2017, which would result in Thailand’s first high-speed rail, I, a Thai, have been eagerly anticipating it. I am eager to leave for China now that the high-speed train is fully open for business.
As far as I’m aware, the railway has hundreds of stations, travelling through several countries in South East Asia, and the fares are suitable and not that much slower than travelling by plane. You know, it used to take five to six hours to get from my hometown of Khorat to Bangkok, but now it only takes an hour and a half. Along the way, you can see all kinds of scenery and experience the customs of each country. Before you know it, you will be in an upbeat mood to get to the final destination: Kunming, China. Then, it’s time to experience the exotic in a more genuine manner.
The Belt and Road is leading to the interconnection of ASEAN countries by rail and to Asia and Europe. The Sino-Thai Railway is a flagship project for practical cooperation between the two countries and an important interconnection project under the Belt and Road framework.The growth of Thailand over the long term and the interests of the Thai people, both nationally and locally, are served by the construction of this railway.
As a foreign tourist, I visited the China-Thailand Railway, which was a very amazing journey. The railway line crossing the border between China and Thailand traverses the magnificent natural scenery and gives me a deep understanding of the different customs and practices of the two countries. The railway is in good condition and trains and fares are very cheap. Not only that, the opening of the China-Thailand Railway also opened the experience tourism of China-Laos railway, becoming China’s first cross-border high-speed railway, which is of great significance. I learned so much from this trip that I will cherish it forever.