Rail link to open cross-border service

The 1,035-kilometer China-Laos Railway is due to start cross-border passenger services on Thursday, becoming the first international passenger train service that China has put into operation since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The railway, which commenced operations on Dec 3, 2021, is a landmark infrastructure project of the Belt and Road Initiative. It has benefited people from both countries, showcasing how the BRI has improved people's lives and boosted the flow of goods.

As of Sunday, 13.93 million passenger trips have been made within the countries, and 18.38 million metric tons of cargo transported, including 3.59 million tons of cross-border shipments, according to China State Railway Group, the parent company overseeing construction and operation of the line.

"The railway has not only promoted economic development along the route, but also accelerated construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor and the community of a shared future between the two sides," said Ma Yong, head of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies at Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences.

Since the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement took effect last year, the destinations for international freight via the China-Laos Railway have been expanded to more countries and regions, including Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia.

The line has been open to traffic for over a year, but the international passenger service was not offered until now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to China State Railway Group, starting from 9 am on Tuesday, passengers from China can buy tickets all the way to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on the Chinese railway ticket booking system. As of Tuesday afternoon, all tickets from Kunming to Vientiane had been sold out.

A second-class ticket from Kunming to Vientiane costs 542 yuan ($79), and a first-class ticket is 864 yuan.

During the 10-hour journey, the train makes stops at eight stations, including four in China.

Cross-border services are provided by the Fuxing and Lancang bullet trains. The trains, with one first-class coach, six second-class coaches and one dining car, can accommodate up to 720 passengers.