View Full Version : Railwatch:ExtensionFundingNeeded
Does anyone know why the rail link from Nongkhai to Vientiane just doesn't seem to have a chance to get finished in the near future?
After all, the facts are not that unfavourable towards a completion:
-It's a mere 16 km or so from the Friendship Bridge to the capital.
-They already provided a rail on the bridge when constructing it.
-Laos could have its first railway line ever.
-It would facilitate travel (well, not dramatically, of course) and boost tourist arrivals (not that the Lao government is overly interested in doing that, though - they appear rather indifferent, neither encouraging nor discouraging foreign visitors).
-Thailand has relatively good relations with Laos (at least when compared to Burma or Cambodia...) Can't they just get together and reach an agreement?
-Sure it's a poor country, but I guess a project like this could easily attract international financial support.
OK, I can understand it's not a top priority, but it is sad for a railway enthusiast to see that line end so short of Vientiane........
------------------
P.S. As to the "first railway in Laos", I once saw in a documentary that under the French colonial rule, there used to be a very short rail track across one Mekhong island in the Siphandone area (in the far South of Laos) to facilitate the transportation of goods between the western and eastern banks, but I don't want to count that one as a real railway line. (It's been out of service for many decades, but some remnants can still be found, including some overgrown rails and a rusting narrow-gauge steam engine, I think.)
Wisarut
17-09-03, 11:15 AM
KHun NCR,
The following are from SRT Website:
Friendship Bridge - Tha Nalaeng Project (3.5km)
So far, the estimated construction cost is 6.827 million US$
(excluded the signal systems) - about 270 million Baht ->
However, Lao Governemtn said they should cut down
to the level not exceed 200 million Baht. Which has come
up with the result that :
"2 detour rails at Tha Nalaeng must be omitted ->
cutting down the estimated cost to 185 million Baht
(4.032 million US$) "
this result has been delivered from SRT to Lao Railway
Authority (LRA) on May 15, 2003.
Now, if Lao Railway Authority accepted this condition,
the bidding will be called .... and construction wll be started ...
oh. i didn't even know that this project exist.:D
But i think it will surely boost toursim between the two countries.
Thanks, Khun Wisarut.
But where is Tha Nalaeng? And why only 3.5 km? So it is not planned to continue to Vientiane?
But at least there's already a "Lao Railway Authority" - how encouraging! :)
Wisarut
19-09-03, 09:53 AM
Khun NCR,
Tha Nah Laeng is the main pier and the main checkpoint in
Lao side - for the ferry from Tha Sadej (the Main Checkpoint
and Ferry Pier in Nong Khai) as well as for the vans that
go from Thai side. Usually, people will make a border passes in Nong Khai and then ride a van to go across Friendship Bridge
to Tha Nah Laeng.
After reaching Tha Nah Laeng, people will have to hire
a Skylab Samlor (a moroized Trishaw) to reach downtown Viangchan - 500 Baht for each Samlor car whcih can carry about 10 passengers. In the past, Lao governemtn have imposed
"Entering Tax" -> but now they have exempt such kind of tax
for those senior people (65 years or more) and Children (12 years or less).
The reason for such kind of arrangement for border
crossing ise due to the fact that Lao government wants
to RESTRICT Thai influence to flood into Laos more that
the allowable level. Well, those in Politburo have to rely on
ITV (from Thai side) to see the world as well as the fighting
at Chong Mek Checkpoint in Ubon ... The kids also watch
Thai TV channels to see what's cool today ... The housewifes
also watch those soap opera .... etc etc .... Even though the
TV signal from Lao TV can be received in Nong Khai .... only
a few people watch Lao channel .... except in the case of
boat competition alogn the Mekhong or so ...
Furthermore, Lao government are in financial trouble
... some even go to produce speed pills as well as allow
Red Wah to transport speed pills to earn more hard currency
... The Mekhong Patrol Units (a combined unit of Royal Thai
Navy, Immigration Office, and Poilice) has seizzed speed pills
as well as contrabands from lao side several times ...
Only when Lao governemnt has much healthier finacial stability that they will ask for more extension to downtown Viangchan.
Wisarut
Khun Wisarut,
yeah, of course I know the checkpoint. I have entered Laos via the Friendship Bridge twice (and through Chong Mek once, and come back through Nongkhai, Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom, respectively). But I never heard the name Tha Nalaeng before.
And sure, all Lao people watch Thai TV all the time. (At least where they can receive it, maybe not in remote mountain regions.) Nobody wants to see their own boring state television program. The good point is that most of them learn to speak Thai through this. (The two languages are very closely related anyway.)
But what is that story about "fighting in Chong Mek" that you mentioned? I have no idea what you mean. Maybe I missed out on something in the news?
Yesterday's Bangkok Post (13 March 2004) carried the following article:
RELATIONS WITH LAOS
B185m support for stalled Lao railway project
Excerpts:
"Thailand has agreed to support a long-delayed railway project in Laos to connect its capital Vientiane with the northeastern province of Nong Khai, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said.
"Financial support from Thailand is worth 185 million baht, 30% in the form of grants and the rest soft loans. Laos will lay tracks from the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to Vientiane. [How can they do that? They have no experience at all with railways. It will rather be done by a Thai company, I guess......]
"The agreement will be signed by the countries' finance ministers during a joint cabinet meeting on March 20 in Ubon Ratchathani and Champasak."
Unfortunately, no time plan for the construction was mentioned.
And a question: If this is the same 185m budget as for the 'Tha Nalaeng project', will the tracks really go all the way to Vientiane???
Wisarut
15-03-04, 10:36 AM
Tha Nalaeng is the 1st phase and Viangchan Central Station is the next since Lao governemnt is cash strapped so they ask the loan only about 200 million Baht at the time being. Probablky, Lao govenremtn will ask Italian Thai Development PCL to handle this job. They will eventually reaches Vientchan whne Lao governemtn borrow more money.
BTW, the extyimated cost for this railway is about 60 million Baht/km thus you could guess how much does it cost to
construct the new railway line.
Has there been any progress on this project after the signing of the contract?:confused:
jpatokal
19-01-05, 04:37 PM
I'm heading to Vientiane this weekend via the Friendship Bridge so I'll see if I can see construction in progress. I'm not holding my breath though :rolleyes:
Eagerly awaiting your report, jpatokal! Haven't been there (and to Laos in general) since December 2002....
klauswantier
20-01-05, 10:21 PM
Hallo Jpatokal,
when you pass the friendship bridge, please have a look at the road. I am not shure, (because it was always dark when I passed the bridge) but I think, in the middle of the road are the rails installed and on the Thai side connected with a switch. But than very clever people had mounted between the rails the crash barrier for the cars. I think the rails are ending at the crosspoint where the change is from left-side driving to right-side driving.
But I am not quite shure!
Two years ago I saw in Vientiane in the quarter behind the Vietnamese embassy a big sign at a house, showing that there was the office for Laos railway construction.... I hope, they are strong and hard working.
Three weeks ago I have visited in Si Pan Don area the islands Don Kon and Don Det. The two lokomotives are still there, but one is only a fragment, laying at the southern end of the line.
The better lokomotive is standing 200m south of the bridge connecting the two islands.
Have a nice trip to Laos. Klaus
jpatokal
23-01-05, 06:51 PM
Eagerly awaiting your report, jpatokal! Haven't been there (and to Laos in general) since December 2002....
Nothing to report, I'm afraid: no sign of any construction at either end, and I couldn't even see the rails. :confused: I wasn't looking very hard though, since this was my first time crossing the Mekong...!
I liked Vientiane quite a bit, but it's not exactly a mass transit freak's paradise. :D But Beerlao and sunsets over the Mekong make up for it!
Wisarut
26-01-05, 12:34 PM
Now. Thai Railfan has takem a photograph fo the railway from Nong Khai to the Friendship Bridge ... Take a look here:
Railway from Nong Khai to Talad Nong Khai
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2134
Railway from Nong Khai to Friendship Bridge
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2132
Now. Thai Railfan has takem a photograph fo the railway from Nong Khai to the Friendship Bridge ... Take a look here:Nice. (Though it's not nice that no trains are traveling on these tracks....) So we can see that the rails end at the borderline in the middle of the bridge, not at the crossing point from left-side to right-side driving.
Wisarut
27-01-05, 11:18 AM
The specification of Lao Railway and New Nong Khai station ....
from Thai Railfan:
Second Handed 70 Lb/yard rail (Type R - 18 yard) + switching
from Rehabitated tracks. Now, the rails are still NOT used yet ...
New Nong Khai station:
100 Lb welded track with concrete sleepers + Color Light Signal
Note that the ONLY train that go to the old Nong Khai station is Local Train 415/418 (Nakhon Ratchasima - Talad Nong Khai -> using Hitachi Railcars - comissioend since 1971)
jpatokal
27-01-05, 01:29 PM
Nice. (Though it's not nice that no trains are traveling on these tracks....) So we can see that the rails end at the borderline in the middle of the bridge, not at the crossing point from left-side to right-side driving.
Direct link to the photo documenting this:
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/resize_of_dsc01800.jpg
Really weird tho, the tracks and their end are buried in asphalt -- now they'll have to rip up the bridge surface if they ever want to complete the Laotian side! And now I understand why I didn't see the rails, I was looking to the sides but not at the road median. It doesn't look like they could ever run cars & trains across at the same time...?
Wisarut
27-01-05, 04:21 PM
Have you seen the new Nong Khai station ... Usign the Red granite Station Sign ... the very special sign INDEED! ... using 100 Lb Rail with concrete sleep
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2142
Direct link to the photo documenting this:
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/resize_of_dsc01800.jpg
Really weird tho, the tracks and their end are buried in asphalt -- now they'll have to rip up the bridge surface if they ever want to complete the Laotian side! ... It doesn't look like they could ever run cars & trains across at the same time...?That's right, neither the design (train traffic in the middle of the road) nor the implementation (stopping the track-laying on the bridge) appear to be particularly intelligent..... the railway connection was clearly not the priority when they constructed the bridge. But then I guess they always knew it would take an eternity until something would happen with respect to the rail link between the two countries........ :(
Have you seen the new Nong Khai station ... Usign the Red granite Station Sign ... the very special sign INDEED!Khun Wisarut, I am getting a bit confused about those stations now ...... what is "old" and "new" Nong Khai Station, what is Talat Nong Khai Station?
The list on Rot Fai Thai says Talat Nong Khai is about 2 km north of Nong Khai Station. Was it built as a later addition/extension (if so, when?), and for what purpose? Where do the trains usually terminate?
Wisarut
27-01-05, 05:18 PM
Yep, the old Nong Khai station (Opened in 1958) got the new Thai Name, Thee Yud Rot Talad Nong Khai (Nong Khai market Stop) ... even though the English name is still shown as Nong Khai though.
The New Nogn Khai station has replaced the old Nong Khai station in 2000 ... so as to served the future train to Viang Chan. The Old Nong Khai station (now Talad Nong Khai Stop) is TOO far away from the Friendship Bridge, so it has been DOWNGRADED to Talad Nong Khai Stop - with ONLY 1 local train arriving from Nakhon Ratchasima (Train 415) and another train to Nakhon Ratchasima (Train 418).
Oh, interesting. Thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately I have never been to Nong Khai by train - only as far as Udon. (I'd really like to go - do they have sleeper trains to there, by the way?)
But now I remember that I have been to Talat Nong Khai Stop before - when cycling to the Friendship Bridge on a road next to the river. It looked really desolate.
The overall layout is as follows: the railway line passes Nong Khai to the west, then makes a right turn from the north-south direction to end up parallel to the river. That's the location of the old station. The rail connection to the bridge goes straight north, however, so that the old line now sort of branches off from the new line. The new station was built south of the branch-off.
So that also means, although it's close to the bridge, the future trains from/to Laos will not pass Talat Nong Khai, as it's off the main track - and a dead-end.
Wisarut
28-01-05, 10:33 AM
Khun NCR,
Yes, ther is an aircon sleeper on the express train 69/70 to Nong Khai (via Lum Narai Route) ... However, I prefer the day trip Rapid 137/138 nad you'll se why i reccommend this rapid train .... goign through Pasak Jolasit Dam at Day is a BIG plus
Departure Schedule at Nong Khai station is HERE
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/dsc01814_resize_resize.jpg
Arrival Schedule at NongKhai station is HERE
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/dsc01815_resize_resize_resize.jpg
Red Sign
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/dsc01788_resize_resize.jpg
The track sign
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/dsc01785_resize_resize.jpg
Thai Railway is a PROPERTY of Thai people, so YOU should take care of YOUR property!
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/dsc01794_resize_resize.jpg
Nong Khai station gate
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/dsc01793_resize_resize.jpg
Wisarut
28-01-05, 01:48 PM
According to SRT Plan, ther will be Special Aircon Friendship Express from BKK to Viangchan (No 23/24) via Chachongsao, Klong 19, kaeng Khai - Lum Narai - Bua Yai
However, if they construct the triangle at Thanon Chira Junction, they whouls help to introduce the rapid train form Ubon to Nong Khai and Viang Chan ...
Was in the UN the other day and got some brief info...
1) Aran. to Poipet (Thai - Cambodia) expected by 2006,
MOTC signed MOU with Cambodia already.
2) Nong Khai to Vietiane (Thai - Laos) expected by 2008.
Apparently these two are thought to be priorities and thus the dates said to be realistic. Collecting an update paper shortly and will post any relevant info.
Interesting to see update on these projects. I found information relating to railway development projects in Lao:
http://www.laoembassy.com/news/phao.html
Note the following excerpt
Extension the Sub regional Railway Network to Lao PDR (RW4):
The concession agreement was concluded with a Thai private group on a BOT scheme for the extension of the Sub regional Railway Network to Lao PDR through the First International Mekong Bridge. The agreement also permits this group to undertake and complete the feasibility study of the railway project from Vientiane to the Chinese border within 5 years.
jpatokal
17-05-05, 11:20 PM
Interesting to see update on these projects. I found information relating to railway development projects in Lao:
http://www.laoembassy.com/news/phao.html
Note the following excerpt
Extension the Sub regional Railway Network to Lao PDR (RW4):
The concession agreement was concluded with a Thai private group on a BOT scheme for the extension of the Sub regional Railway Network to Lao PDR through the First International Mekong Bridge. The agreement also permits this group to undertake and complete the feasibility study of the railway project from Vientiane to the Chinese border within 5 years.
Did you notice the date? The doc you link to from a speech on 10 April 1997!
Wisarut
01-06-05, 01:36 PM
Lao Railway Authority Starting the First Railway Project
Reference : Vientient Time - May 31, 2005
Civil work on the proposed railway project is expected to begin in September said a Lao Railway Authority (LRA) senior official. The railway project that many people have been awaiting for about 10years is finally coming, according to LRA Deputy Director Sonesak N. Nhansana.
LRA who invited bids from consultancy companies, have already received three offers, all of them from Thai firms. The Government is giving greater priority to Thai companies because the Thai government has agreed to grant a low interest loan of 200 Million Baht as well as aid to operate the railway project, said Sonesak.
On June 10, the selected consultants will begin operations; on July 24, the bids for civil work are expected to be submitted, and construction is likely to start in September. According to projections, the railways will be commissioned by the end of 2007.
According to the project design, the tracks will run 12.5 km from the middle of the Lao-Thai Friendship bridge to Vientiane , with three stations, at Thanaleng, Somsanga and Vientiane respectively.
The projected cost of survey and construction on the initial 3.5km length from the Friendship bridge to Thanaleng station is 197 million Thai Bahts; the Government will get the money from the Thai government, comprising a 70 percent loan component and 30 percent grant aid.
For survey work on the second stretch from Thanaleng station toVientiane station, the Frenchgovernment has offered grant aid of 150,000 Euro to survey 9 km.
The Government is currently negotiating with the Vietnamese governmentfor grant aid of about US$60,000 for conducting a feasibility study of the project.
Sonesak said that after the railway was completed they would allow Thai trains to use it for transporting passengers and goods until the LRA obtain their own trains, according to an agreement signed by the two countries.
The Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and construction of Laos and the Ministry of Communication of Thailand are the signatories to the agreement.
Funds for buying trains would be raised at a later date; however, negotiations are currently on witha Japanese company, Tezuka Rolling Stock Industry, about the donationof an engine and four bogies,two each for goods and passengers. LRA also plans to construct warehouses for goods storage.
Railway construction has helped connect neighbouring countries in Asia , such as the railways connecting Singapore and Kunming , for instance. I can foresee a Lao train in the not too-distant future going from Vientiane station to Thakhek, and on to Muda Vietnam ), a total distance of 466km. And Laos is a member of the Trans-Asian Railway that will connect Asia to Russia going through India , Bangladesh and Myanmar ; the Trans-Asian Railway project has 22 member countries. Also our railways can be part of the railway project called the North South Economic Corridor that connects to southern China 's Yunnan province, Sonesak said, outlining future plans.
If we use trains to transport products, transportation costs in Laos will decrease about 130 percent compared to transportation by road as at present, said Sonesak
For instance, the volume of transportation for import-export from 1996 to 2000 on the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge route is estimated at 1.2 to 1.4 million tonnes per year. In 2001 it increased to 44 million tonnes; this amount does not include the volume of imported petrol, and the authorities expect the volume of transportation to increase at about 4 to 6 percent per year.
Train transportation of goods is expected to reduce the transport bill down to 136 billion kip ayear, from 302 billion kip as at present an annual saving of 166 billion kip.
The railway project is a big project for the Government as it is capital-intensive, and we need toborrow huge funds for infrastructure, said Sonesak
He added that most private investors interested in the project want the Government to repay the entire capital with interest; the government finds these terms unacceptable.
Sonesak added that railways will not only spell profits for investors but will greatly benefit thepublic; the prices of goods will fall. The price of transportation will also be cheaper than currently as traders will be able to move a lot of goods at the same time an estimated 1,600
tonnes in 20 train bogies.
According to the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction's annual summary for the fiscal year 2003-04, the authorities have completed measuring and marking of areas for railway tracks and stations from Khamsavath village to Xokkham village, a distance of 3.5km.
The authorities also sought help from district officials to advice residents not to do any construction in the area earmarked for the railway project. District officials have also had two electric poles moved at the Thanaleng village to facilitate construction of a railway station.
jpatokal
04-06-05, 10:32 AM
While I'm very glad to hear this is nudging ahead, the following statement stuck me as a little puzzling:
Railway construction has helped connect neighbouring countries in Asia , such as the railways connecting Singapore and Kunming...
I think the Vientiane Times editors need to buy a new map if they think Singapore and Kunming (in Yunnan, China) are "neighboring countries", or that it's possible to travel between them by rail... :(
Right, jpatokal, that also puzzled me....... (BTW, never heard anything about the "Vientiane Times"...)
As for the latest news, it's great that something seems to be going on in this matter. Only why must it be so sloooooow? Two and a half years for the first 3.5 km of rail and five and a half years for the remaining 9 km to Vientiane (because that is what Khun Wisarut said here (http://www.google.co.th/groups?hl=th&lr=&threadm=1117484736.224789.52820%40g44g2000cwa.goog legroups.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Dth%26lr%3D%26selm%3D1117484736.22478 9.52820%40g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com))?
If everything goes according to the plans / the Lao government propaganda, that is. *Sigh*
Yappofloyd
07-06-05, 03:10 PM
^ for decision makers in Lao, April 1997 is recent past! Let us see if Sept 2005 has some reality and if it really can be running by 2007.
Lao Railway Authority Starting the First Railway Project
Reference : Vientient Time - May 31, 2005
Civil work on the proposed railway project is expected to begin in
September said a Lao Railway Authority (LRA) senior official.The railway project that many people have been awaiting for about 10 years is finally coming,according to LRA Deputy Director Sonesak N. Nhansana.
LRA who invited bids from consultancy companies, have already received
three offers, all of themfrom Thai firms.
“The Government is giving greater priority to Thai companies because
the Thai government has agreed to grant a low interest loan as well as aid to operate the railway project,” said Sonesak.
On June 10, the selected consultants will begin operations; on July 24,
the bids for civil work are expected to be submitted, and construction is likely to start in September. According to projections, the railways will be commissioned by the end of 2007.
According to the project design, the tracks will run 12.5 km from the
middle of the Lao-Thai Friendship bridge to Vientiane , with three stations, at Thanaleng, Somsanga and Vientiane respectively.
The projected cost of survey and construction on the initial 3.5km
length from the Friendship bridge to Thanaleng station is 197 million Thai Bahts; the Government will get the money from the Thai government, comprising a 70 percent loan component and 30 percent grant aid.
cont....
Full article at at (http://www.google.co.th/groups?hl=th&lr=&selm=1117484736.224789.52820@g44g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com) as linked by 2bangkok.com
I think the Vientiane Times editors need to buy a new map if they think Singapore and Kunming (in Yunnan, China) are "neighboring countries", or that it's possible to travel between them by rail... :(Maybe the "Buffalo Map".......? (See this thread (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=934).) :D :D :D
Wisarut
10-06-05, 09:40 AM
Khun NCR,
Even though they know that the route from Singapore to Kunming will go through KTMB Network, SRTNetwork, Royal Cambodian Railway Network and Vietnam Railway Network, Lao RailwayAuthority want to come up with their network as a SHORTCUT ....
Wisarut
16-06-05, 06:03 PM
Laos, Thailand cooperate in railway construction
Vientiane (VNA - Vietnam News Agency) - June 15, 2005
Laos and Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
on the construction of a railway connecting Vientiane with Thailand's
Nong Kai province, according to a Lao senior officer.
Under the MoU, the first 3.5 km-long section of the project will be
built in Laos at a cost of 197 million Baht, 30 percent of which will
come from non-refundable aid and the rest from Thailand.
The second 9 km-long section will also be built in Laos with French
grants worth 150 million Euros [6 billion Baht] - to purchase Second hand Alsthom
Locos and Diesel Railcars as well as the construction of Viangchan Railway Station
and railway tracks.
The construction of the railway will be started in September this year
and is expected to go through March, 2007, the MoU stated, adding that
three Thai companies will be in charge of the construction.
Wisarut
22-06-05, 05:53 PM
Vientiane link part of grand rail plan
Published on June 16, 2005
Laos has pushed ahead with the first phase of its national railway system after cutting through bureaucratic red tap, which has delayed the project, Lao Railway Authority said yesterday.
The 12.5-kilometre section of track would connect the Thai track on the bridge to Vientiane and pass through Tha Na Laeng. Construction has been scheduled for completion in 2007.
Laos has agreed to soft loans and aid from Thailand worth Bt 197 million to construct the railway line. The project would bring together many agencies from both sides of the Mekong, said Sonesack N. Nhansana, deputy director of the Lao Railway Authority in a phone interview from Vientiane.
Thailand’s financial arrangements for the project have been complicated as 70 per cent are soft loans and 30 per cent is a grant. In addition, the Thai government allows only Thai construction companies to be the main contractors.
Construction of the 9-kilometre section from Tha Na Laeng to Vientiane has been difficult, as Lao authorities have had to seek financial backing for the project, Sonesack said.
The total construction cost has yet to be determined.
The Authority has recently picked a Thai consultancy firm for the project.
However, bidding for the track cannot be opened until approval has been received from at least three agencies. The authority has submitted the firm for approval to the Lao Transport, Construction and Post Ministry, the ministry then needs to convey its decision for consideration to the Lao Finance Ministry before consideration by the Thai Finance Ministry, a Lao official said.
The short section of track is part of a larger plan to develop a national railway network.
After the track has reached Vientiane, the Laos government plans to launch its second phase to extend the railway to Luang Prabang, and a third phase to the northern town of Boten bordering with China, Sonesack said.
Experts at the Agence Francaise du Development have been designing the 9-kilometre railway line from Tha Na Laeng to Vientiane, Sonesack said.
The French agency has granted 15,000 euros for the design of the section to Vientiane, not the 3.5-kilometre section from the bridge to Tha Na Laeng, as earlier reported.
The French agency is also conducting a feasibility study on possible bilateral cooperation between France and Laos, or trilateral cooperation, which would include Thailand, a French official said earlier.
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Wisarut
22-06-05, 05:55 PM
he government has been generous as regards rail link
I am writing in reference to the news report, “Study of Thai-Lao rail
link almost ready” by Supalak Ganjanakhundee in The Nation of June 15 [Regional]. In the news report, it is said the Thai government was reluctant to endorse the proposed railway extension between Nong Khai province and Tha Na Laeng in Laos even though the project would cost only US$5 million [Bt206 million] due to the scant returns to the Thai side. Apparently, Khun Supalak failed to verify the accuracy of his source of information. In this regard, I wish to point out the following:
-The Thai government has given great importance to the construction of the railway that would span across the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai to Tha Na Laeng in Laos. This is a priority project between Thailand and Laos to expand transport linkages and to facilitate and promote trade and tourism between the two countries.
-As a result of discussions with the Lao government, Thailand contributed the sum of Bt3.67 million for the feasibility study and construction design of the aforementioned rail link, which was later submitted for the consideration of the Lao government in August 2001. Subsequently, following a request from the Lao side, the Thai government on July 1, 2003, agreed to contribute Bt197 million for this project, 30 per cent of which was a grant, 70 per cent a concessionary loan. An agreement on this matter was signed between the two governments on March 20, 2004.
-Trilateral cooperation on this project was also discussed with the French government which indicated a positive response. However, due to certain technical problems, France could not participate in the first phase of the proposed rail link, but later agreed to cooperate with Thailand in studying the possibility of taking part in the second phase to extend the rail link from Tha Na Laeng to Vientiane.
I also wish to point out that the Nong Khai-Tha Na Laeng rail link project has progressed and presently is at the stage of selecting an appropriate consultant company. Please be assured that the Thai government stands ready to render her support for the success of the project.
Sihasak Puangketkoew, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bangkok
**************
Editor responds: We published a follow-up story on June 16 giving
the correct information under the headline “Vientiane link part of grand rail plan
R. Zimmermann
29-08-05, 02:35 PM
Picking up on previous contributions. I think we all know that SRT's Nongkhai
Station had already been relocated to the new branch of the line. This reaches the middle of the bridge. Personally I consider the travelling convenience of the backpacker crowd as less important than allowing landlocked Lao an access to the international container trade. I had the
chance the other day of asking a gentleman of authority of UNESCAP why
the line is not being built and - whilst on he subject - why the line to Cambodia is not being reconnected. The answer was a simple and straight
forward one: ADB (Asian Development Bank) does not provide the funds!
Any better advice, anyone?
Page includes road, RAIL, air and water projects; many of which would impact Lao if they were ever to materialise:-
http://www.adb.org/gms/trans_pp.asp
Note how active 2Bkk afficionados have been in observing the early outset of the Airport Link in Bangkok.
Hopefully, our posters will be keeping a similarly eager eye on the outset of the railway to Vientiane.
Khun Wisaruth gave us this start date:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/srt/srt-current.shtml
Laos, Thailand cooperate in railway construction - VNA-Vietnam News Agency, June 15, 2005
Laos and Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the construction of a railway connecting Vientiane with Thailand's Nong Kai province, according to a Lao senior officer.
Under the MoU, the first 3.5 km-long section of the project will be built in Laos at a cost of 197 million baht, 30 percent of which will come from non-refundable aid and the rest from Thailand.
The second 9 km-long section will also be built in Laos with French grants worth 150 million Euros [6 billion baht] - to purchase Second hand Alsthom Locos and Diesel Railcars as well as the construction of Viangchan Railway Station and railway tracks.
The construction of the railway will be started in September this year and is expected to go through March, 2007, the MoU stated, adding that three Thai companies will be in charge of the construction.
Voice of America aren't so optimistic:-
http://www.voanews.com/lao/2005-08-09-voa2.cfm
Laos announces it will, by year's end, begin construction of the first section of a railway linking the capital Vientiane to Thailand’s Nongkhai province via the Friendship Bridge.
The 3.5 km-long track will be built with the help of the Thai government, which will provide the 197 million-baht funding, 30 per cent of which will be a grant while the rest will be long-term loan with no interest on condition that Thai companies and materials be used.
The second 9 km-long section that will go around the outer area of Vientiane will be built with French grants worth 150 million Euros.
KEEP US POSTED OUT THERE, YOU GUYS WHO DO VIENTIANE VISA-RUNS!!!
This Vientiane Times snippet from August 2004 reminded me that an ASEAN railway has been somewhat hopefully projected through Thakek. Unfortunately, the whole article is no longer available:-
Vietnam to support railway survey in Laos (VT)
THE Vietnamese Transport Ministry has agreed to support technical survey for the ASEAN railway network project in Laos. The railway from Thakek district, Khammuan province will link with Vietnam, a Lao railway authority official said last week.
Obviously, Thakek presents a fairly easy route to Vietnam. Could it be that someone started tentatively on this route before? Perhaps a piece of solidarity in action between communist brothers? Or is it just another sugarcane operation? Or lumber? I note that a lot of lumber still passes through Thakek to Thailand.
The Nation (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/02/22/regional/regional_20001335.php), 23 Feb 2006:
France okays Thai-Laos railway link
France has given the green light for a rail link between Thailand and Laos in a trilateral agreement between the countries, the director-general of the French Development Agency (FDA), Jean-Michel Severino said yesterday. Severino, who visited Bangkok with President Jacques Chirac last week, held a press conference yesterday to promote bilateral cooperation. The rail link, which was first discussed by Chirac and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra two years ago, will link Nong Khai and Vientiane.
It will be the first rail line in Laos. The project has two phases. The Thai government will finance the first phase, which will link Thailand to Tha Na Laeng in Laos, said Laurent Deney, director of AFD Thailand. The contractor will be selected soon, he said.
France will finance the second phase, which will linking Tha Na Laeng to Vientiane, said Deney, adding that the AFD would begin a detailed study into the estimated 30-kilometre line in a few weeks. It hopes to conclude the study by the end of this year and start the project next year.
Deney estimated the cost of the project at about US$13 million (Bt512 million). The AFD, which opened an office in Thailand in 2004, plans to cooperate with Thailand in managing rubber plantations in Cambodia, and providing tourism and textile training to Cambodians and Laotians.
The AFD plans to invest EUR40 million (Bt1.8 billion) to protect the environment along the Andaman coast. AFD operates in more than 40 countries, mostly sub-Sahara African nations. It provides grants, technical assistance and loans to emerging and developing countries, state-owned enterprises and infrastructure projects. It spent EUR3 billion in last year.
Sopaporn Saeung
>>>>> or does the Thai part of the project fall victim to the political crisis anyway, just like the mega-projects (read: it's indefinitely postponed for now)? :rolleyes:
More disappointing news found in this article (The Nation, 8 June 2006):
Environment crucial to French Mekong funding (http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/08/regional/regional_30005987.php)
Development projects in the greater Mekong sub-region, with a particular focus on power plant projects in Laos, might find it difficult to receive funding from France unless they meet environment protection standards. Country director of the French Development Agency (AFD), Laurent Demey, said the agency is keen to offer monetary assistance for building power plants in Laos and Cambodia, "but a decision would be made only if we are satisfied the projects will not damage the environment". He refused to specify any of the projects. AFD has financially supported projects such as the Nam Theun II dam project in Phnom Penh, Laos, and renovation of the Siam Reap airports in Cambodia and the Phu My II hydropower project in Vietnam.
The agency is currently looking to finance a 9km railway project in Laos, connecting Tha Na Laeng to the capital city of Vientiane. AFD experts hope to complete a feasibility study of the US$13million (Bt496 million) to $15 million track by the end of this year and approve the project by the first quarter of next year. The project, if undertaken, will be phase two of the total 12.5km rail link between Thailand's Nong Khai and Vientiane. Thailand has provided Bt197 million for the first 3.5km sector from Nong Khai across the Mekong River on the Friendship Bridge to Tha Na Laeng.
AFD has plans to support rubber plantation projects in Cambodia and rural development projects in Vietnam. The agency has organised a regional seminar from yesterday until tomorrow for 30 representatives from the public and private sectors in the region to exchange thoughts on financing the project. Key elements that can determine success and failure of these projects are balancing benefits between private and public sectors. Governments in the region tend to bank too much on private investment, which looks forward to maximising profit, Demey said. Dealing with development projects in countries falling in the Mekong region is difficult, he said. In Vietnam, financiers need to deal with state identities to complete a project while in Cambodia and Laos, balancing the benefit between the private and public sectors is the key, he added.
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
:mad: Now it's a "feasibility study" until the end of this year again, after we had previosuly heard the construction would finally be started in September (see two posts up)? :mad:
jpatokal
13-06-06, 10:04 AM
:mad: Now it's a "feasibility study" until the end of this year again, after we had previosuly heard the construction would finally be started in September (see two posts up)? :mad:
If I'm reading this right, the earlier article says that the first phase (Nong Khai-Tha Nalaeng, 3.5 km) construction is starting this year; the article just talks about the second phase (Tha Nalaeng-Vientiane, 12.5 km) coming later.
I'd also presume that the first part of crossing the border is the politically hard bit; once they've got that done, the second part into downtown Vientiane shouldn't be terribly difficult any more.
von Hirschhorn
13-06-06, 07:46 PM
Here happens exactly what I criticised in another thread; a lot of writing and promising, planning, tossing and thinking, but hardly anything takes off. After all the most reliable informant is the guy with the camera on the spot on the day the first meters of track will be laid. A more adult approach of the papers would be fine instead every heard rumour or vague intention brought big on the front page, or is this a political statement on it self’s? Is this the Thai way - and maybe not only Thai – to achieve in the end what they want or only an ‘l’art pour l’art’ exercise. Well, if that’s the case spare me this approach and give me results, it’s less tiring.
Asian Development Bank has even considered building this route as a mineral line:-
http://www.adb.org/GMS/proj-trans-rail.pdf
RW7: Railway Projects
Connected with Mineral
Developments in Lao PDR
Indicative projects include construction of a railway line
(1) from Lao PDR's Xieng Khouang Province to the
Vietnamese port of Cua Lo, following the path of Route 7,
mainly for the export of iron ore; and (2) from Thakhek in
Lao PDR to Tanap on the Vietnamese railway network.
Wisarut
29-09-06, 12:44 PM
26 Sept 2006: The Official SIgnup for Nong Khai - Tha Nalaeng Railway line (3.5 km). This lien will be doen in 18 Month -> Rerady to be opened in April 2008.
There will be Frienship Express and Friendship Rapid from BKK to Tha Nalaeng (extended to Viengchan Later) alogn with local trains as well as cargo trains ...
Lao railway Authorityu si goign to take a look at Tha Nalaeng - Viengchan (9km) and Kham Muan - Vietnam line
http://www.manager.co.th/IndoChina/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000121885
Yes, we missed it! It seems that the following groundbreaking ceremony was on Friday, January 19. But I note that they are saying that a 'road' has already been built along the route. Thanks to the Vientiane Times: -
Rail link ready to roll
Construction work on the first Lao railway officially began on Friday, with the completion date slated for April next year.
Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula joined 100 senior officials at the ground-breaking ceremony at Dongphosy village near the Friendship Bridge in Vientiane on Friday, the site of the new train station.
Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh presses a button to reveal a commemorative plaque, accompanied by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula. --Photo Khamphanh
Work on the 3.5 km railway and train station will cost around 197 million Thai baht, 70 percent of which is a loan from the Thai government, with the remaining funds a gift from Thailand to Laos .
The project includes a passenger terminal and immigration checkpoints, as well as facilities for loading cargo. Passengers wanting to travel to Bangkok in Thailand will be able to take the train from Dongphosy, according to officials.
The rail link is expected to be completed by April 18, 2008, in accordance with a contract between the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction and the Thai Sermsanguan Construction Company, signed in September last year.
The company has already finished some initial work, such as clearing the site to build the station and labourers' quarters, and trucks and construction materials are now in position.
Workers have already built a road cutting through rice fields to the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge , marking the new route for the railway.
The Head of the Railway Construction Project, Mr Sompong Pholsena, said the building of the railway across the Friendship Bridge would not disrupt traffic between Vientiane and Nong Khai, as most of the work would be carried out in the evenings.
Work will begin each day after the international checkpoint closes, and proceed until the checkpoint reopens in the morning.
The Minister of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction, Mr Sommad Pholsena, said during the ground-breaking ceremony that the railway would lower transport costs between Laos and Thailand .
He said that although the railway was only 3.5 km long, it would be very important because it would be the first railway in Laos , and would not only promote trade with Thailand , but also form part of a network of railways throughout Asia as well as the Mekong region.
The railway will improve the communication network in Vientiane , and contribute to the development of the country as a land-link in the region. It will also be the foundation for the industrial modernisation of Laos .
He said the Lao government would give priority to the development of the railway from Thailand to central Laos , before focusing on another route heading east to Vietnam .
A further project to develop a Lao railway to link to the Singapore-Kunming railway is also under negotiation.
Deputy Head of the Lao Railway Authority, Mr Sonesack N. Ngansana, said the government would carry out further surveys on a railway route from Tha Nalaeng train station in Donphosy to a planned train station in Sok Kham village in the suburbs of Vientiane .
By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update January 22, 2007)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_PM.htm
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=13286#post13286
Japanese to provide train for Lao-Thai rail link
A Japanese train company has agreed to assist in providing a train for use on the first railway to be built in Laos , connecting Laos to Thailand over the Friendship Bridge .
The President of Tezuka Rolling Stock Industry Co Ltd, Mr Kiyonori Tezuka, told Lao media on Friday that his company will absolutely assist Laos so that it will not be necessary to rent a train from Thailand .
“We are keen to assist developing countries, especially Laos ,” he said.
At first, the company thought of providing one of its own trains, but it was not suitable for use on the 3.5km track, so it has decided instead to bu y one from Thailand .
The train will consist of an engine, a goods truck and a passenger carriage, and should be available by the time the railway is completed, in 18 months' time.
According to the project coordinator negotiating between the Lao government and the company, Mr Hom Songpadith, Mr Tezuka travelled to Bangkok on Saturday to discuss purchase of the train from Thailand .
Mr Hom is a Lao businessman living in Tokyo . He said that he had learned from the Lao ambassador to Japan that Laos would have a railway, but had no train.
Mr Hom met with Mr Tezuka, who operates a train service in Tokyo and agreed to assist in providing a train for Laos .
Mr Hom and Mr Tezuka came to Laos to attend the stone-laying ceremony at Dongphosy village close to the Friendship Bridge on Friday, where the station will be built.
Mr Tezuka has agreed to provide training for officials from the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction in relation to train transport techniques. They will first attend a six-month course in Vientiane to learn Japanese before going to Japan to learn about railways first-hand.
“It is important to prepare human resources to manage the railway efficiently,” Mr Hom said.
By vientiane times
(Latest Update January 22, 2007)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Previous_015/Business/Business_japan.htm
Wisarut
07-02-07, 04:13 PM
Ahh ... The JAP Loco ... If it works Okay like good old Hitachi (E.G. Hitichi Loc with MAN Engine for Royal Train), that would be OKAY ....
However, the JAP Loco should not get Oveerheated or have missing Hood WIndow (AKA Elephant Ear Windows) ... or the obstructed Turbochargers .... like the later Hitachi ..... :rolleyes: :p
Wisarut
08-02-07, 01:23 PM
Now, I foudn the address of Tezuka Rolling Stock whjo is goign to supply the first loco alogn qwith 2 BCF and 2 Bogie Third Class Passenger carriages for Lao Railway Authority
Tezuka Rolling Stock Industrial Co., Ltd. (手塚車輛工業株式会社)
44-6, Nakamaru-cho, Itabashi-ku,. Tokyo 173-0026
(〒173-0026 東京都 板橋区 中丸町 44-6)
Tel (電話)：03-3973-3166
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/432495708_8207a04801_m.jpg
Map showing approximate allignment of the Laos railway presently under construction. [See earlier reports in this thread.]
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/432495706_6ff36aa742.jpg
RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION FROM
FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE TO BAN THANALENG
PROJECT
Thai Loan No. NECF/L-003
Start Date : October 2006
Completion Date : April 2008
Executing Agency: Ministry of Communication Transport
Post and Construction (MCTPC) Railway
Authority Lao PDR
Funding Agency: Neighbouring Countries Economic
Development Cooperation Agency
(NEDA) Kingdom of Thailand
Design by : STS Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd.
Construction Supervision by :
STS Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd
in association with
Pacific Consultants International
(Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Lao Transport Engineering Consult
Construction by: Sermsanguan Construction Co., Ltd of
Thailand
Lao Railway Authority Office
Signing Ceremony on 26 September 2006
PROJECT FEATURES
The railway link line from Thailand to Lao PDR (between
Friendship Bridge to Thanaleng, south-east of Vientiane ) will
be fundamental part of Lao Railway Network to Vientiane in
order to carry an increasing traffic volume and promote
economic linkage between the two countries. The route will
extend from Thai side at mid-point (border line) of the
Friendship Bridge and runs on the bridge about 600 m and is
terminated at Ban Thanaleng Station with total length of 3.5 km.
The scope of the project is as follows:
(1) General Requirements
The works comprise project management, control,
provisions and maintenances of temporary facilities
and equipment, insurance, project schedule and
control, testing, survey, various submittal etc during
mobilization and demobilization.
(2) Earthworks
The work includes clearing and grubbing, excavation,
embankment, subbase, slope protection and removal
of existing asphaltic concrete for laying trackwork on
bridge of 600 m in length. Total amount of
embankment work is about 112,300 cu.m and will be
built using standard procedures.
(3) Roadworks
The work covers an aggregate bass course, asphaltic
concrete pavement of approximately 15,280 sq.m
laterite road of about 5,350 sq.m and placing asphaltic
concrete along both sides of rail on the bridge of 600
m in length along with installation of guardrails
painted.
(4) Structure Works
The work covers one box culvert of size 3-3.00x3.00
m 10 m long for drainage and one Roadway box
culvert of size 4.50x5.00 m 10 m long for road
crossing underneath of the railway; (Tunnel).
(5) Buildings
The work covers the construction of one 5-unit Row
House, station building, one Food and Toilet building,
platform between Track 1 and Track 2 of about 2100
sq.m, platform with roof at station of about 3250 sq.m
and chain link fence of 400 m. in total length.
(6) Drainage Work
The work covers 0.8 m diameter R.C. pipe culverts of
500 m in length, concrete U-ditch (with cover) of
2,100 m in length, concrete V-ditch of 1,300 m in
length, 16 each of concrete drop inlet and 18 each of
concrete manholes.
(7) Utilities
The work covers electrical work including provision
of power supply for street lighting system in new road
and street lighting for the existing concrete post, and
for the signalling and telecommunication system, and
public water supply to buildings at Ban Thanaleng
Station.
(8) Trackworks
8.1 The work covers placing ballast, sleepers,
fastening and laying rail including lifting,
leveling, lining and tamping for
- Track on permanent way 2,900 m.
- Track on bridge 600 m.
- Turnouts 4 Ea
8.2 The work includes the supply of track
maintenance equipment.
(9) Signalling and Telecommunication
The work covers the three booths for level crossing
keeper inclusive of electric supply and water supply
and provision of two sets of block equipment, one set
of dispatcher telephone, key lock point, three sliding
gate trolleys, together with incorporated devices for
signalling and telecommunication system consisting of
four sets of hand operation point and two sets of
wooden derailer located in approach and of Ban
Thanaleng Station and near ending point of the line.
Each party exchanging Contract Documents
PROJECT HISTORY
Lao PDR is a landlocked country which lies between the
Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
extending in 1,900 km to northwest and southeast.
As for transportation infrastructures, Lao PDR has no railway
system and an insufficient roadway system. Improvement of
these transportation systems is a large concern of the country. In
addition, for the landlocked country of Lao PDR, it is most
essential for the socio economic development to secure
international transportation routes with overseas countries
through neighboring countries and their deep sea ports.
However, the geographic feature of the country bounded by the
Mekong River in Thailand side and by the mountain range in
Vietnam side has been obstacles against the improvement of
transport links with neighboring countries.
The link connecting Vientiane city, the capital of Lao PDR, and
its surrounding area with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
as well as Eastern seaboard through Northeast Thailand is
considered to be the most important economic corridor. As part
of this corridor, the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge crossing
the Mekong River was constructed between Nongkhai and
Vientiane in 1994. Currently this bridge is used for road
transport only, but can accommodate a railway also. Railway
track in Thai side of the bridge has been installed already
extending to existing railway track from Nongkhai Station. It is
a single track with 1,000 mm gauge with the distance of 2.5 km
from new Nongkhai Station up to the center of the Bridge (the
border).
In August 1995, the feasibility study on the Nongkhai to
Vientiane Railway Extension Project was conducted under the
agreement between Lao Government and the private company
for being concessionaire of this railway project. The study
proposed to construct a 13.6 km railway line from the center of
the Friendship Bridge up to Vientiane city having 3 stations at
Ban Thanaleng, Somsanga and Vientiane Central, as shown in
Route Map However the implementation program has been
stopped due to economic crisis in this region in 1997.
In September 2000 STS Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd has
been awarded on the Detailed Engineering Design Contract for
Friendship Bridge to Ban Thanaleng Railway Project by State
Railway of Thailand (SRT) under the agreement between the
two governments of Lao PDR and Thailand for the purpose of
maximizing the usage of Friendship Bridge for transport system.
The design has been finished in March 2001.
Hence, the construction project has been implemented under the
Financial Assistance Agreement No. NECF/L-003 between Lao
People’s Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Thailand
dated March 20, 2004. All proceed shall be executed through
Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation
Agency (NEDA) as Donor’s Agent of Thailand.
Continued in next post
http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/pdf/RailwayConstruction.pdf
http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/pdf/RailwayConstruction.pdf
DETAILED ENGINEERING DESIGN
(1) Route Alignment
Horizon Alignment
Horizon Alignment for the project has been designed
to allow for line speeds up to 120km/h. The extent of
curved track used is of the following proportion of the
total alignment length;
Distance Percentage
400 m 11.4%
3,100 m 88.6%
Vertical Alignment
The gently undulating terrain has required that the
following range of track gradients to be used;
Gradient Distance
-1.000% 1,100 m.
-0.087% 400 m.
0.000% 2,000 m.
Route Description
Key controls and features of the route have been
included as follows:
0+000 to 0+700: This alignment is straight from the
center line of the bridge
0+700 to 1+400:This alignment contains 1 road
tunnel, an existing pond to be
filled and small groups of
building
1+400 to 1+900: Ditch crossing with box culvert
1+900 to 3+417: Ban Thanaleng station
3+417 to 3+500: Extended alignment for 83 m
Survey Team of Contractor Start Work on 10 October 2006
(2) Road, Tunnel and Ditch Crossing
The route over most of the project length is aligned
approximately south-north. The alignment intersects a
number of road, tunnel and ditch.
There are one road crossing, one tunnel crossing and
one ditch crossing with a RC. box culvert.
A road crossing at 1+820
A tunnel crossing at 1+204
A ditch crossing at 1+500
(3) Earthwork
The following information shows general context of
the route profile:
0+000 to 0+800: There is no earthwork required
because this alignment section is
on the bridge’s structure.
0+800 to 1+775: This alignment requires an amount
of fill.
1+775 to 3+500: This alignment requires an amount
of cut.
Alignment passing through Existing Pond to be filled up
at Km. 1+000
(4) Track Design
Rail
Type of Rail
Main line BS 80 A
Auxiliary-main line BS 80A (including running
loops)
Siding BS 80A
At present the standard rail length is 18 m.
Rail Joints
Fish plates BS 80 A rail will use
four bolt fish plates
Insulated Rail Joint Plates To be decided
Sleepers
Use of the monolithic pre-stressed concrete sleepers
The standard SRT type will be used.
Sleeper spacing
Main line 60 centimeters
Siding 65 centimeters
Rail Fastening Device
For ease of maintenance a Pandrol type will be
proposed
Pad
High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Ballast
Hard durable rock ballast will be used to facilitate
future maintenance, and the applicable specification
will be the American Railway Standard for
checking grading, flakiness, elongation, and wear
factor.
Switches
Main line : BS 80 A rail simple turnout # 12 (1: 12)
at points - flexible switch
at frogs - manganese frog
Siding : BS 80 A rail simple turnout # 10 (1: 10)
at pints - ground ordinary rail switch
at frogs - built-up frog
Level Crossing
In principle, level crossing will be avoided
wherever practicable, but where they are necessary
or economically desirable the SRT standard shall be
used. Additionally, high strength concrete will be
applied for bridge panel and concrete block system
will be applied for the road.
Track Side Signs
The following post or signs, either of wood or
concrete, will be specified:
- distance post at 1000 m and 500 m
- grade post
- curve post
- clearance post
- shunting limit post
(5) Structure Work
As this rail link is a relative short, which is 3.5 km,
and the general terrain is pretty flat. There are only
three main structure works as follows:
- Ban Thanaleng Station and its facilities
- 1 Box culverts
(6) Signalling and Telecommunication
The consulting Team will follow SRT’s standard and
current practices. The signalling System will
essentially be and extension of the existing installation
up to Nongkhai, and will interface as such, and follow
in the use of Token less Block and Fixed Line side
Signals.
Great find, GWR! Thanks for that.
Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs online statement:
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/1839.php?id=19249
Today (8 March 2007) Mr. Nitya Pibulsonggram, Foreign Minister, started his official visit to Lao PDR after the 8th Joint Boundary Commission in Luang Prabang. In the evening, Mr. Nitya held bilateral talks with Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Lao’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
2.2 Infrastructural Development: The infrastructure includes the Mekong Bridge linking Nakhon Phanom and Khammouan Provinces, the railway linking Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam along the R12 route, and the Mekong Bridge linking Chiang Rai and Bokeo Provinces on the R3 route for which Thailand, China, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreed to provide financial assistance to Lao PDR. In addition, the Lao Government has requested financial assistance from the Thai counterpart on the additional 9 kilometres of the railway construction linking Thanalang to Vientiane.
Vietnam Railway Corp Watch - Including info on projected links with Laos:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2476
Survey on Lao-Viet railway to begin soon
Vietnamese experts, in cooperation with Lao authorities, will soon begin a survey to build a railway linking Vietnam to central Laos , according to the Lao Railway Authority last week.
The project is part of a plan to build a trans-Asia railway network, with routes connecting member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).
Deputy Head of the authority, Mr Sonesack N. Ngansana, said Vietnamese experts had come to Laos a few weeks ago to view the site of the new route with Lao officials.
“The survey will take 10 months to complete, with financial support from Vietnam ,” he said, adding that Vietnam had agreed to provide 1.7 billion kip (3 billion dong) for the survey of the railway several months ago, and the process was now in motion.
Once the survey is complete, Laos will seek assistance from foreign countries to start the construction of the railway.
The railway will begin in central Vietnam , follow Road No. 12 to Khammuan province, and from there go on to Vientiane - a total of 519 kilometres.
Mr Sonesack said the completion of the railway would enhance transport, trade and investment cooperation between Laos and Vietnam , as well as cooperation among Asean member countries.
According to the vietnamnet website, in a June 26 report, the railway project on the Vietnamese side from Ha Tinh province to Laos would run for 119km, with 12 stations, seven tunnels, and 24 bridges, with investments totalling US$280 million.
The report, using information from the Deputy Head of the Vietnam Railway Agency, Mr Nguyen Van Doanh, said that to connect up the railway system, not only Vietnam would have to build railroads, but Laos and Cambodia would need to as well.
Laos is yet to have its own train network; the first railway linking Laos to Thailand via the Friendship Bridge is currently under construction.
According to the Lao Railway Authority, construction on the 3.5-km rail link from the middle of the Friendship Bridge to Dongphosy village in Vientiane began in January and is now 32 percent complete.
Mr Sonesack said the project would be completed on schedule by the end of 2008, giving Laos better goods transport facilities to Thailand and, eventually, regional links.
By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update July 09, 2007)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_Survey.htm
More on this plan from the Vietnamese Railway Corp:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=15536&postcount=14
(KPL) The construction project of a railway system in Laos linking sub-region is almost 30 per cent completed, and is anticipated to open for public use by 2008 and to serve the 25th SEA-Game 2009 that will be hosted by Laos.
This is according to the project owner concluded last month, compared to the project plan.
The project was pressed button by Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh to kick start the construction earlier this year with an appreciation of linking sub-region along the Road No 1, which is belongs to an initiative idea of ASEAN Railway Kunming-Singapore.
The project phase 1 stretches from the end of Friendship bridge to Ban Dongposy is valued at 197 million baht, of which 30 per cent of grant aid and loan for the rest.
For the second phase the railway will be built from the first station at Ban Dongphosy to Vientiane station at Ban Dongsavath with a stretch of nine km.
This project was granted by the French Government through Agence Francaise de Developpement that has approved the first grant of 150,000 euro.
This project has drawn attention from many companies both local and foreign that now five foreign companies have bought bid envelops from project owners.
Next phase of railway construction will build to connect the km 21 on the road No 13 passing through behind of the 25th SEA-Game stadium, industrial zone and an international airport that will be built in future.
The railway line of km 21 stretch is under survey and will be succeeded by this year.
Linking this railway from the km 21 to Thakhek district, Khammouna province, which connected Muda of Vietnam to Tan Up of Hanoi with a total stretch of 519 km.
One of the railways is the China-ASEAN rail link with three separate lines linking Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos with China.
The rail link will further go to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, and will be altogether 5,500 km-long. With its expected completion by 2015, the rail link will play a key role in pushing forward regional economic cooperation and integration.
China has already stated construction of the eastern line of rail link from Kunming to the Vietnamese border and it is investing 50 billion yuan (6.25 billion U.S. dollars) to build a total of three lines in Yunnan province to link them with Laos and Myanmar besides Vietnam.
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn8.htm
Lao-Thai railway takes shape
Managers of the Lao side of a new railway project linking Vientiane to Nong Khai in Thailand have assured Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh it will be completed as planned.
Photo expired. See next post!
[Photo: Vientiane Times - 1 km of the track from Vientiane to Nong Khai has been laid. --Photo Khamphanh]
The construction of the 3.5 km-long railway from the centre of the Vientiane-Nong Khai Friendship Bridge to Dongphosy train station began in January this year and will take 18 months to complete, according to the schedule.
Mr Bouasone visited the site of the railway in Dongphosy village, Hadxaifong district, Vientiane , last week, and announced he was happy with the progress of construction, according to a senior railway official.
The Deputy Director of the Lao Railway Authority, Mr Sonesack N. Ngansana, said on Tuesday that the construction of the railway on the Lao side, along with station buildings and other facilities, was now 48 percent complete, and all of these facilities would open for public use next April.
He said the station's power grid had been installed, as well as the water supply and one kilometre of the track. The train station itself is now under construction, including immigration and customs buildings, restaurants and other facilities.
The project will also involve installing closed-circuit cameras on the bridge so that officials can better manage the flow of traffic to coordinate with train times, he said.
Mr Sonesack said the timely progress of the project was due to the close supervision of the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Posts and Construction, while project consultants had also overseen the process.
There had also been significant cooperation from the Hadxaifong district authorities.
He said that project officials, in cooperation with the Hadxaifong authorities, had resettled three families who had previously been living on the project site; the project has allocated a budget of 20 million kip to compensate these families and help them settle in other places.
The project has allocated 197 million kip to compensate all families who have been affected by the project.
The construction of the first Lao railway is being funded by the Thai government, and is costing around 55 billion kip (197 million Thai baht), 70 percent of which will be in the form of a loan, and the rest as a gift from the Thai government.
Mr Sonesack said the communication ministry hoped that the railway would reduce transport costs for Lao products being exported to Thailand and to world markets.
The French government has provided a budget of 1.8 billion kip (150,000 euros) to carry out surveys for the construction of a further 9 kilometres of track to Sokham village, which is the planned location of the Vientiane Train Station.
France and the Republic of Korea have expressed interest in helping Laos to purchase trains, subject to further discussions, according to railway officials.
By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update October 10, 2007)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_lao.htm
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn11.htm
http://www.kplnet.net/daily%20image/2007/oct/121007/vientiane-121007-f.gif
[Photo: KPL]First Laos-Thailand railway sets to open early 2008
(KPL) The first friendship railway between Laos and Thailand is set to be completed on schedule in April 2008 since the construction work is now completed by half.
According to a recent fact-finding report submitted to Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, the remaining work for the 3.5 km railway connecting the existing Thai rail track in the middle of the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge to Thanaleng train station at Dongphosy village on the outskirt of Vientiane is underway.
This phase will involve the construction of railway stations, immigration offices, railway lounges, restaurants, water systems and other supporting facilities.
The railway is estimated to cost 55 billion Kip (roughly 6.2 million USD), 70 percent of which are soft-loans from the Thai government.-
Rather quirky map of Phase 1 & 2 (& possibly Phase 3) of the Laos railway project from a Japanese Language blog:
http://laotimes.exblog.jp/i9/
http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200710/06/09/e0053309_10583958.jpg
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn11.htm
http://www.kplnet.net/daily%20image/2007/oct/121007/vientiane-121007-f.gif
[Photo: KPL]
Rather quirky map of Phase 1 & 2 (& possibly Phase 3) of the Laos railway project from a Japanese Language blog:
http://laotimes.exblog.jp/i9/
Map of Project:
http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200710/06/09/e0053309_10583958.jpg
Japanese firm to buy train for Laos
A Japanese business group has expressed interest in buying a train for Laos , to help the landlocked country overcome transport barriers to world markets in the future, according to a senior railway official.
The Deputy Director of the Lao Railway Authority, Mr Sonesack N. Ngansana, said yesterday that Tezuka Rolling Stock of Japan had announced it would buy a two-carriage train, for goods and passengers, from Thailand , as a gift for the Lao government once it opens the first railway early next year.
“The Japanese group informed us recently that they would like to give us the train we need,” he told Vientiane Times, adding that the group recognised the importance of a railway link for a landlocked country like Laos .
The group holds major investment shares in a railway business in Tokyo , Japan , according to Mr Sonesack.
He said the Japanese entrepreneurs would also provide financial support to ensure Lao officials received the proper training in how to operate and maintain the train, to ensure it would run smoothly once the railway link to Thailand is completed.
A Lao business owner, Mr Hom Songpadith, speaking on behalf of the Japanese entrepreneurs, confirmed they were negotiating with Thai authorities to buy the train, and said Thai trains had compatible wheel types.
He explained that at, first, the Japanese wanted to present Laos with a Japanese-built train, but it had the wrong wheel design, and this would have meant extra costs in having it modified for the Lao track.
He also said he could not confirm how much the train would cost, because the price was subject to negotiation.
Mr Sonesack said the Japanese entrepreneurs had initiated the train purchasing project earlier this year, during the inauguration ceremony of the Lao railway link to Thailand .
He said he hoped the negotiations could be expedited so that there would be a train in place as soon as possible after the railway is completed.
“We won't be part of the purchasing process, because it's a negotiation that doesn't involve us, but we will do whatever we can to facilitate the agreement,” he said.
Mr Sonesack said that once Laos has a railway, it will be much easier to transport goods across the Thai border, and that the Lao and Thai governments had agreed to allow their trains to cross the border.
The construction of the 3.5 km-long railway from the centre of the Vientiane-Nong Khai Friendship Bridge to Dongphosy Train Station began in January this year and will take 18 months to complete, according to the project schedule.
The French government has provided 1.8 billion kip (150,000 euros) to carry out surveys for the construction of a further 9 kilometres of track to Sokham village, which is the planned location of the Vientiane Train Station.
By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update November 13, 200
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_Japanese.htm
Railway survey set to begin
The Lao Railway Authority signed an agreement in Vientiane on Monday with the bid-winning French consultant company Systra to start conducting a survey and design plans for a 9-km railway in Vientiane.
This marks the second phase of the country's railway project to connect Dongphosy train station in Hadxaifong district, currently under construction, to the planned station in Khamsavat village, Xaysettha district.
Deputy Head of the authority Mr Sonesack N. Ngansana explained that the authority had initially planned to build another railway station in Sokkham village, Xaysettha district, but had decided instead to build one in Khamsavat village.
Mr Sonesack said the previously planned route would have passed through farmland and residential areas, and was also considered too close to the city centre; the authority wanted to minimise the impact on livelihoods, which was why it had changed locations.
The first survey was conducted in 2002 by the Korea Railroad Technical Cooperation Company.
Monday's agreement was signed by Mr Sonesack and Systra representative Mr Luc Vorilhon. The survey, which will take eight months to complete, will cost 246,565 euros, to be provided by the French Development Agency.
The bidding process took 197 days with nine consultant companies competing.
Mr Sonesack could not say when construction on the second phase would begin, as his authority was waiting for the outcome of the survey to define the project cost.
“I believe that there will be funding available after the survey and project design,” he said.
“The funds might be granted by Thailand or France, or the Lao government will borrow money once the survey is complete.”
The railway development is a priority of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in promoting trade, investment and tourism with other countries, as well as to integrate the ‘landlocked' country within the region.
Construction on the 3.5-km rail link from the centre of the Friendship Bridge to Dongphosy village in Vientiane began in January and, according to the Lao Railway Authority, it is now 70 percent finished and is set to be completed on schedule by mid-2008.
After the 9-km railway project, the authority plans to develop a new station in the Km 21 area, connecting with the railway running from Vietnam through Khammuan province.
The project is part of a plan to build a trans-Asia railway network, with routes connecting member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations.
By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update December 5 , 2007)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_Railway.htm
One article reports Giant Group as a Malaysian company. http://www.zibb.com/article/1990649/Malaysian+company+to+invest+500+million+USD+in+Lao s
I don't know whether it is connected to the supermarket chain in Hong-kong, Singapore & Malaysia. Certainly, Giant PLC in the UK seems to be involved in a number of sectors, including an employment agency:
Giant Group Limited donates 100 billion kip to PRF
(KPL) The Giant Group Limited has donated a grant of 100 billion kip to the Poverty Reduction Fund.
The presentation of the grant took place at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.
Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad, received the financial donation package from the President of Giant Group Limited, Mr. Mohamed Faskibilhamidul among the witness of relevant officials of both sides.
Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad expressed thanks to the Giant Group Limited for its grant assistance to the Poverty Reduction Fund.
The Giant Group Limited has its headquarters in London, the United Kingdom.
The group has representative office in Vientiane and is interested in investing in hydropower projects of Nam Phao 1, 2 and 3, and railway construction project to better the communication between Vientiane and Khammouane province.
The group is believed to sign an MOU with the government of Laos on those projects. The construction of the projects is expected to start next year.
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn1.htm
See also yesterday's previous post in this thread on the possibilities of a Vientiane-Thakhek (Khammouane) link
Last updated: 16:23 - December 26, 2007
Vietnam-Laos railway under consideration
The Ministry of Transport has appointed the Vietnam Railway Department (VRD) to make a feasibility study on the construction of a railway linking Vietnam and Laos.
As part of the trans-Asia railway system, the route will start at Veuntai village, 12 kilometres north of Thakhek city of Laos , and finish at Mu Gia Pass in Vietnam’s central Quang Binh province.
The project is estimated to cost US $450 million, said VRD Deputy Director Nguyen Van Doanh. (VNA)
http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/261207/business_viet.htm
Vietnam Funds Railway Feasibility Study for Laos
26/07/2007
Vietnam has agreed to assist Laos in the feasibility study for a railway project linking the city of Vinh, in central Vietnam, to Laos capital Vientiane via Thakhek in central Laos.
The feasibility study is expected to take ten months and funded by a 3-billion Dong grant from Vietnam. The Vinh-Thakhek-Vientiane railway would be 519-kilometer long, with the Vinh-Thakhek segment running parallel to the R-2 highway. [Mod: Do they actually mean Route 12 in Laos, I wonder?]
If the project is deemed feasible, Laos is expected to look to China for construction funding. The Communist giant who wants to have railway access to its neighbors to the South to facilitate its trade has already approved a $525-million aid to Vietnam to fund railway feasibility study and construction projects linking Vietnam to Laos and Kampuchea. China hopes to have a railway network running from Kunming to Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Kampuchea, and Thailand by 2020.
http://www.voanews.com/lao/archive/2007-07/2007-07-26-voa2.cfm
There are many other posts in this thread that cover railway development & history in Laos. See 1:1,200,000 map scan (1 cm. = 12 km.) of route beneath article:
Laos, Vietnam start survey for friendship railway
Laos and Vietnam have joined hands in conducting a survey of a possible railway to link the central Lao province of Khammuan with Quang Binh, Vietnam.
The Deputy Director General of the Lao Railway Authority, Mr Sonesack N. Ngansana, said on Monday that the joint survey by Lao and Vietnamese railway officials began last month with the financial support of the Vietnamese government. The survey is expected to take 10 months to complete.
He said the new “friendship railway” would commence in Thakhek town, the capital city of Khammuan province, and stretch east through Nhommalath district to connect with an existing railway in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Binh.
“The survey of over 150 km of the railway between the two countries was actually first begun during the colonial era, and we can still see some evidence of this old railway track,” he told Vientiane Times.
Mr Sonesack said that once the survey is completed, the government officials would come together to hear the findings, and discuss funding options for the construction of the friendship railway.
He confirmed that several international financial institutes have expressed interest in providing financial assistance to the project, which is a component of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) development programme.
According to unofficial estimates, the construction of the railway could run to more than 3.2 trillion kip (US$350million). However Mr Sonesack said that project costs could be even more expensive if the railway is forced to traverse any mountainous areas.
“If the railway passes through any mountains, we will have to excavate a number of tunnels, and costs would be more expensive,” he said. “During the survey, we will concentrate on avoiding these areas that would require tunnels, in order to reduce construction costs.”
Mr Sonesack said that a railway linking Laos and Vietnam was very important because it would mean a number of existing railways in the region were better much connected. A railway is a symbol of modernisation, makes the transportation of goods easier, and boosts the economic development of a nation, he continued.
The Lao government considers as very important the development of a railway within the country, because it would allow great advancements in efforts to turn the country from landlocked into “land-linked”.
The government began the construction of the county's first railway from the Vientiane-Nong Khai Friendship Bridge to Dongphosy village, Hadxaifong district in Vientiane, in January 2007. The 3.5 km railway, funded by the Thai government, is due for completion in April 2008.
The government last month also began the survey of another 9 km railway, to run from Dongphosy village to the planned Vientiane train station in Khamsavath village, Xaysettha district. The survey is funded by the French government.
By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update Janurary 1, 2007)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_Lao.htm
1:1,200,000 map scan (1 cm. = 12 km.) of route. Thakhek in the West, Mu Gia Pass in the East, with Route 12 showing the approximate alignment of the route with Gnommalat/Nhommalath about half way between the two. Most reports speak of Than Ap being the connection of this projected line to the Vietnam North-South line, but it is not shown with that name on the map from which this scan was taken:
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5732/36539944am4.jpg
Also see another thread in this subforum (with several map scans) that deals with past railway and aerial cableway construction on the Mu Gia Pass - amongst other things:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2154
See previous three posts in this thread:
One article reports Giant Group as a Malaysian company. http://www.zibb.com/article/1990649/Malaysian+company+to+invest+500+million+USD+in+Lao s
I don't know whether it is connected to the supermarket chain in Hong-kong, Singapore & Malaysia. Certainly, Giant PLC in the UK seems to be involved in a number of sectors, including an employment agency:
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn1.htm
The big impression I get from the above article and the one below is that the current wave of hydro-electric power projects, extractive industry plans and fantasy rail projects are pulling in some very 'strange' business interests. Take a look at this one for example:
HTC - Railway Project
Railway Project is one of the main infrastructures to develop Social and Economic of every country in the world. It can serve demand for both transportation of people and commodities by cheaper when compared with other ways.
Since 2003, the National Assembly Economical and Financial Committee has approved to the National Lao Railway Project Committee as well as to prepare feasibility project study, construct and operate this project.
The Project is planned to traverse the Railway transportation between South-East (SE) Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar) to China, Middle Asia and Europe on this project.
The Social and Economic benefit that will be gained from this project included by :
- Housing construction
- Setting up of shops along the streets near the railway station
- Terracing of sloping land in order to increase agricultural output, and decrease soil erosion
- Employment in the project construction and operations
- Access to micro-credit
- Skills training
- Improved social services and infrastructure
- Growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The railway line, in the total approximated length of 2,679 Km, will be traversed through an area where a large population lives cover all country with 43 stations as follows :
1) M. Sing (64+000)
2) M. Louang-Namta (114+000)
3) M. Xai (198+000)
4) M. Nambank (256+000)
5) M. Loung-Phabang (356+000)
6) M. Xiang-Ngeun (374+000)
7) M. Kasi (464+000)
8) M. Vangviang (520+000)
9) M. Phohong (594+000)
10) Mviengkham (602+000)
11) M. Thoulakhom (624+000)
12) M. Xaithani (674+000)
13) M. Pakngum (716+000)
14) M. Thaphabath (752+000)
15) M. Pakxan (806+000)
16) M. Pak Kading (844+000)
17) M. Hinboun (944+000)
18) M. Thakhek (988+000)
19) M. Xebanfai (1034+000)
20) M. Outomphone (1085+000)
21) M. Songkhone (1184+000)
22) M. Khongsedon (1252+000)
23) M. Pakse (1318+000)
24) M. Pathoumphone (1362+000)
25) M. Khong (1469+000)
26) END POINT (1210+000)
27) M. Sannmxai (1134+000)
28) M. Attapeu (1104+000)
29) M. Thateng (996+000)
30) M. Salavan (954+000)
31) M. Toumlane (928+000)
32) M. Phine (832+000)
33) M. Xaibouathong (722+000)
34) M. Mahaxai (684+000)
35) M. Gnommalath (658+000)
36) M. Nakay (640+000)
37) M. Khamkueth (584+000)
38) M. Viengthong (512+000)
39) M. Pek (304+000)
40) M. Kham (152+000)
41) M. Viengkham (64+000)
42) M. Ngoy (28+000)
43) M. Nambak-Pakmong (0+000)
For further information about our Railway Project, please contact to Mr.Khampanh Panyavong (Project Director): -
E-mail address : khampanh.panyavong@hansentrading.com
http://www.hansentrading.com/Content/Railway1.htm
Wisarut
07-01-08, 08:55 AM
Khun GWR,
After takign a look at the list of 43 stations, it is implied abtou the main line from Chinese Border at Muang Nambak-Pakmong (km 0+000) to Muang Khong [AKA Sithandorn - an island in the middle of Mekhong river near Khon Phapheng waterfall] (km 1469+000)
One of the curiosity is the missing section from Tha Nalaeng - Viangchan Municiple ... probably will be connected at either Muang Phon hong (km 594+000) or Muang Viengkham (km 602+000)
I better ask Than Khamphan for this matter ...
First phase of railway construction to complete by April
http://www.kplnet.net/daily%20image/2008/Jan/07.01.2008/rail-way-f.gif
[Photo: KPL - Lao News Agency]
(KPL) A 3.5 km railway construction, from the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge to Thanaleng warehouse, Hardsaifong district, Vientiane Capital, will be completed by April. This first phase of the railway construction commenced in 2006.
Mr. Sonesack Nornhasana, Deputy-Director of the Lao Railway Authority, said that the 3.5-km railway construction is now 73% completed, lagging behind the target. He added that the railway will be opened for Thai trains to carry passengers and transport goods to this station and there will be buses and trucka to carry passenger and goods to the city.
Mr. Sonesack said that the second phase of the 9-km railway construction from Dongphosy to Ban Khamsavath, Saysetha district, would start for the re-survey and design after the completion of the first phase. The second phase receives financial support of 2,46,000 Euro from the French government.
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn2.htm
Wisarut
04-02-08, 10:00 AM
Nong Khai Express 69/70 is goign to cross Friendship Bridge as the followign News said:
Thailand and Laos working on the cross border line service.
Post Today 2 Feb 2008
Governor of Nong Khai and SRT makign a discussion with Lao Railways Authority abotu the corss border railway services between Nong Khai and Tha Nalaeng (3.5 km). Now, SRT has sent the equipment for railway traffic as well as the level crossing equipment ... They hope that cross border traffic will be opened by 1 May 2008.
The cross border service will be the extend of Express 69 whcih reach Nong Khai at abotu 9 AM and it will depart from Nong Khai at 0910 AM and it will reach Tha Nalaeng at 1010. It will depart as Express 70 from Tha Nalaeng back to Nong Khai at 1110 AM.
Once the 9 km extension from Tha Nalaeng to Viangchan station is done, Express 69/70 will function as "Friednship Express" for sure.
Immigration Process will be done within 20 Minutes.
The Draft of Cross Border Treaty will be done in the next 2 weeks ... using the cross Broder treaty between SRt and KTMB as a model for the Cross border treaty between SRT and LRA.
See also previous post:
I would like to have brought you the rest of the report, but in classic KPL style, they have again included the wrong report under the headline and picture. The picture seems to show the rehab of the track already buried in the roadbed of the Friendship Bridge and its approach roads.
AFD supports over 246,565 Euro for railway construction in Laos
http://www.kplnet.net/daily%20image/2008/feb/060208/afd-f.gif
[Photo: KPL Lao News Agency
..........
The frontpage synopsis does give us some further idea, however:
(KPL) The French Development Agency (AFD) of France has provided so far its grant aid worth more than 246,565 Euro to Lao PDR for the 9 km of railway construction from Ban Dongphosy, Thanaleng warehouse, Hatsaifong district to Ban Khamsavad, Saysetha district. This statement was released at the review meeting held on 29 January in Vientiane.
http://www.kplnet.net/
jpatokal
06-02-08, 11:35 AM
The French version of the article does appear complete:
http://www.kplnet.net/francias/news/fdn7.htm
L'Agence française pour le développement (AFD) a octroyé une aide non remboursable d'une valeur de 250 000 Euros au Laos. Cette somme servira à l’étude de faisabilité de la prolongation du chemin de fer sur 8 Kms, entre Phosy et Khamsavad, dans la banlieue de la capitale. La construction a été confiée à la société française Systra. Les travaux de l'étude ont commencé le 7 janvier et dureront 8 mois.
Ce sujet a été annoncé lors de la réunion de bilan de ce projet tenue le 29 janvier à l'hôtel Novotel, en présence du représentant des trois parties, dont M. Sonsak Gnalsana, vice président des chemins de fer.
Par ailleurs, le 1er février 2008, M. Sompong Pholséna, chef adjoint des chemins de fer laotiens, et son homologue thaïlandais ont discuté de la construction des 3,5 Kms de rails de la moitié du pont de l'Amitié jusqu'à Dongphosy.
So the important bit is in bold: the money is for a study of the 8 km Dongphosy-Khamsavad extension, which started in Jan and is scheduled to last 8 months (until Sept).
Yappofloyd
06-02-08, 03:35 PM
Nong Khai Express 69/70 is goign to cross Friendship Bridge as the followign News said:
Thailand and Laos working on the cross border line service.
Post Today 2 Feb 2008
Governor of Nong Khai and SRT makign a discussion with Lao Railways Authority abotu the corss border railway services between Nong Khai and Tha Nalaeng (3.5 km). Now, SRT has sent the equipment for railway traffic as well as the level crossing equipment ... They hope that cross border traffic will be opened by 1 May 2008.
The cross border service will be the extend of Express 69 whcih reach Nong Khai at abotu 9 AM and it will depart from Nong Khai at 0910 AM and it will reach Tha Nalaeng at 1010. It will depart as Express 70 from Tha Nalaeng back to Nong Khai at 1110 AM.
Once the 9 km extension from Tha Nalaeng to Viangchan station is done, Express 69/70 will function as "Friednship Express" for sure.
Immigration Process will be done within 20 Minutes.
The Draft of Cross Border Treaty will be done in the next 2 weeks ... using the cross Broder treaty between SRt and KTMB as a model for the Cross border treaty between SRT and LRA.
Wow, this is really great news that finally after all these years talk and promises, a service to Laos will begin in only a few months time. 3.5km is not that far but at least it is something.
So the important bit is in bold: the money is for a study of the 8 km Dongphosy-Khamsavad extension, which started in Jan and is scheduled to last 8 months (until Sept).
There is an interesting discrepancy here (but not so important), as the amount stated in articles last year was $150K Euros for the study but now it is $246K Euros. Hopefully, the extra amount reflects a more professional and comprehensive study and not some extra into officials pockets!
jpatokal
07-02-08, 12:44 PM
Immigration Process will be done within 20 Minutes.
The Draft of Cross Border Treaty will be done in the next 2 weeks ... using the cross Broder treaty between SRt and KTMB as a model for the Cross border treaty between SRT and LRA.
Great news! How does immigration on Thailand-Malaysia trains work -- do you have to get off the train, or do they check passports on board?
You get off the train, file through a building with the relevant desks and get back into the same coaches. The locos are then changed. It used to take about an hour and there were frequent delays while they dealt with smugglers and young women of dubious employment history. Indeed, there was a drama yesterday evening:
Thai man with gun nabbed
KANGAR: Police arrested a Thai man at the Padang Besar train station after he was found in possession of a semi-automatic pistol and nine bullets.
The 30-year-old was on the Hat Yai-Kuala Lumpur Ekspres Langkawi train which stopped at the checkpoint in Padang Besar at 6pm when he was arrested.
Police found a bag which contained the China-made 9mm pistol and a magazine loaded with the bullets.
State police chief Datuk Ghazali Mohd Amin said the man was travelling alone with valid documents.
He said the man had tried to escape but after a brief struggle, he was overpowered.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2152676/Article/index_html
Wisarut
07-02-08, 04:34 PM
Great news! How does immigration on Thailand-Malaysia trains work -- do you have to get off the train, or do they check passports on board?
WHen IE 35/36 has reached Padang Besar, all passengers goign out and line up at Thai section of Immigration for Departure ... After finishgin the departure section, you just a a few minute walk to Malaysian section of Immigration for Arrival. After finishing the immigration process, you will reboard the train to Butterworth for IE 36 or BKK/Hatyai for IE 36
Wisarut
13-02-08, 09:39 PM
Now, Ban Dong Phosy station (AKA Tha Nalaeng station) is almost done
.. becoming Lao ICD for Lao, Chiense and vietnamese goods
http://pics.manager.co.th/Images/551000001960501.JPEG
WOrking on the new platform of Ban Dong Phosy station (AKA Tha Nalaeng station)
http://pics.manager.co.th/Images/551000001960502.JPEG
The route from Friendship Bridge to China - laos Economic Development Zone
http://www.vientianemai.net/showpic.php?NewsID=1373
REF: manager dailuy - 13 Feb 2008
Vientianemai - 13 Feb 2008
Yappofloyd
14-02-08, 01:45 PM
WHen IE 35/36 has reached Padang Besar, all passengers goign out and line up at Thai section of Immigration for Departure ... After finishgin the departure section, you just a a few minute walk to Malaysian section of Immigration for Arrival. After finishing the immigration process, you will reboard the train to Butterworth for IE 36 or BKK/Hatyai for IE 36
Thanks for posting the shots, great to see.
The immigration process at Padang Besar is fairly smooth but the whole process means that the trains waits about 20-30 mins until everyone is processed from the two times I have done it (the last being in 2006). I imagine that the pax numbers for the Laos crossing will be much higher so I hope that the immigration offices will be adequately staffed otherwise processing will be quite slow.
Now, Ban Dong Phosy station (AKA Tha Nalaeng station) is almost done
.. becoming Lao ICD for Lao, Chinese and Vietnamese goods
http://pics.manager.co.th/Images/551000001960501.JPEG
WOrking on the new platform of Ban Dong Phosy station (AKA Tha Nalaeng station)
http://pics.manager.co.th/Images/551000001960502.JPEG
REF: Manager Daily - 13 Feb 2008
Vientianemai - 13 Feb 2008
Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge to close on Wednesday
Authorities will temporarily close the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge between Vientiane and Thailand 's Nong Khai province on February 20 to enable essential work to go ahead on the country's first railway link.
According to a notice from the Lao-Thai immigration border checkpoint last week, the bridge will be closed from 17:45 to 19:00.
The notice was issued to alert government bodies, foreign embassies, international organisations, businesspeople, travellers and foreign residents in Laos to the closure.
According to the Lao Railway Authority last week, construction on the 3.5-km rail link from Nong Khai to Dongphosy village in Vientiane through the Friendship Bridge is now 80 percent complete.
Deputy Head of the authority Sonesack N. Ngansana said that if the project continues to be on schedule, it will be finished in April this year.
The remaining work includes welding the sections of track together, laying stones under the railway and building the station.
Officials said Laos did not yet have a train of its own; to start with only Thai trains would carry goods and passengers into and out of Laos .
A Japanese businessman has expressed interest in negotiating the purchase of a train from Thailand for Laos , but discussions with the Thai authorities have not yet reached an agreement.
Mr Sonesack said the railway authorities of Laos and Thailand expected to hold a meeting to discuss services between Laos and Thailand based on an agreement for daily railway transport in cooperation with customs officials from both countries for the inspection of goods.
The railway is a priority of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in promoting trade, investment and tourism with other countries, as well as integrating the landlocked country within the region.
A survey of the second phase of the railway, connec ting Dongphosy train station in Hadxaifong district to the planned station in Khamsavat village, Xaysettha district, is now 20 percent complete.
The survey will cost 246,565 euros, to be provided by the French Development Agency.
The inspection of goods leaving and entering Laos will take place at Dongphosy train station.
After the 9-km railway link, the authority plans to build another station in the Km 21 area, to connect with the railway running from Vietnam through Khammuan province.
The project is part of the plan to build a trans-Asia railway network, with routes connecting member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations.
By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update February 18, 2008)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_Lao.htm
See also previous post. It was obvious, in the previous report that some kind of linkage was intended today, but it was rather strange that the report made no mention that an official ceremony was being planned:
Laos, Thailand make historic rail link
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Freecontentphoto_044/Freecontentphoto_page1.jpg
[Photo: Vientiane Times - Mr Sommath Pholsena applauds the linking of the Lao-Thai railway in the centre of the Vientiane-Nong Khai Friendship Bridge yesterday.]
Laos and Thailand have connected their railway tracks, marking a historic milestone in transport cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
Minister of Public Works and Transport Sommath Pholsena, Vientiane Mayor Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune and the Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Transport and Communication Saisawat Kittiponpaibun attended the ceremony yesterday to link the two sections of track in the centre of the Vientiane-Nong Khai Friendship Bridge .
Speaking at the ceremony, the project manager of the first Lao railway, Mr Sompong Pholsena, said the rail link between Laos and Thailand was a historic event and would enable Laos to provide a land-linked service to promote trade, tourism and investment in the country.
He observed that the railway would also form part of the regional Asean railway.
Mr Sompong said the whole project was now 90 percent complete.
The railway is estimated to cost around 197 million Thai baht, of which 70 percent has been loaned and the rest given as a grant by the Thai government.
A ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the 3.5-km railway took place on January 19 last year. It is expected the railway will be fully in place by April.
The Lao Railway Authority plans to extend the length of the track by a further nine kilometres into Khamsavat village in the outskirts of Vientiane , the planned site of the Vientiane train station. The French government provided funding for a feasibility study of the railway.
The Vientiane-Nong Khai Friendship Bridge was funded by the Australian government; construction of the bridge over the Mekong began in 1990 and was completed in 1994.
By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update February 21, 2008)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_laos.htm
Thailand-Laos rail service begins in late April
BANGKOK, March 1 (TNA) – Rail service between Thailand and neighbouring Laos will start late this April, and the Thai Ministry of Transport is confident that the direct link will further enhance tourism and trade between the two countries.
Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon, Thailand's permanent secretary for Transport, said the rail lines of the two countries were connected on the Thai-Lao 'Mitraphab' Friendship Bridge in the Thai border province of Nong Khai on February 20.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to begin its rail services to Laos around late April, said Mr. Chaisawat.
Construction of the rail line from the middle of the bridge to Tanalaeng in Laos has taken 18 months and is due to be completed next month as the SRT has also installed a traffic control system and telecommunication facilities.
Initially, two passenger train services from Bangkok-Nong Khai-Ban Thanaleng will be operated while a special ticket between Nong Khai and Ban Thanaleng will be issued for tourists. (TNA)-E111
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=3060
Railway gets ready to roll
The Lao Railway Authority is discussing preparations for the official opening ceremony of the country's first rail link with Thailand , aiming to coincide with the completion of the railway.
The rail service is scheduled to begin in April, but more discussions are needed with Thai officials to ensure that the schedule for the opening ceremony is met.
“We are certain the work will be finished in April but, concerning the official opening ceremony, we need to hold further discussions with the Thai side,” said the Deputy Director General of the authority under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Mr Sonesack N. Nhansana.
The authority is now drafting an agreement on the rail service to match that of the Thai Railway Authority. The agreement will name ticket prices and specify conditions relating to the transport of agricultural products and animals.
The authority plans to send six officials to study railway signalling in Nong Khai province, Thailand , this month.
“It will take only two or three weeks to learn how to operate the signalling system. Afterwards the trainees are expected to go on a study tour to Nakhon Ratchasima province and to Bangkok , Thailand ,” Mr Sonesack said.
Training courses for officials operating the railway, costing 400,000 Thai baht, are part of the agreement for the 3.5 km rail link. The track runs from Dongphosy village in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane , to the centre of the Lao-Thai Mekong Friendship Bridge , and is costing 197 million Thai baht to build.
Initially, the railway from Bangkok to Vientiane will use Thai trains with two services a day. Laos does not yet have its own train, but the Tezuka Rolling Stock Industry of Japan has agreed to provide an engine, a passenger carriage and a goods container to the Lao government.
“We don't know yet how long we will need to use the Thai train or when we can start to use our own train,” Mr Sonesack said.
He stated that, initially, there would be customs and immigration checkpoints on both sides of the border, but an international train station is expected to be built in Laos in the future, where a one-stop service will be provided to streamline the system.
Mr Sonesack said it was necessary to prepare a comprehensive system to handle all the logistics for when this station is built. This would involve training drivers, marketing and setting up a signalling system.
By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update March 04, 2008)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_Railway.htm
Wisarut
05-03-08, 09:02 AM
Now, I heard that either His Majersty or Princess Sirindhorn is going to perform Open Ceremony for the New Raiulway LKine across the Border to Tha Nalaeng by 1 May 2008.
However the railway linbe from Nong Khai to Talad Nong Khai stop has to be Closed since it is loss making section and there are too few passenger going to to Talad Nong Khai stop ...
Japanese hope to buy train for Laos
A Japanese train company that has pledged to purchase a train for Laos is holding discussions regarding price and design with a Thai train company, according to the coordinator for the Japanese company and Lao Railway Authority officials this week. >>>
But you will need a Vientiane Times subscription to read this article any further:
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Current/Current_Japan.htm
The two projected passenger services each day will be hauled by SRT locos to the best of my knowledge. The Japanese are undoubtedly trying to buy a used/renovated loco from SRT.
A Japanese Locobuilder initially planned to send a new or renovated loco to Laos from Korea. Realizing that it might be slightly impractical, they next announced they had already bought a loco from SRT. They obviously hadn't bargained for the grindingly-slow progress of anything bureaucratic in the SRT leviathan:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=18119&postcount=90
What remains of the last-used loco in Laos. There are numerous other posts - with photos and