Construction of the Laos-Thailand railway extension between the existing outer suburban station to central Vientiane is expected to begin at this year’s end or early next year, according to Deputy Director General of the Lao Railway Department under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Sonesack N. Nhansana. The project was suspended in 2011.
The authorities are working toward organising a bidding process to seek a consultant firm and contractor to carry out construction at the expected date. The extension will be built over a distance of 7.5 km to link the track from the outlying Thanalaeng railway station in Hadxaifong district to Khamsavat village in inner Saysettha district.
Funds for the project are available as Thailand had provided more than 203 billion kip (23.2 million euros), of which 30% was in the form of a grant and 70% was a low-interest loan. Once construction resumes, it would take about two years to complete the project, Sonesack N. Nhansana added.
Laos now has only 3.5 km of rail line linking its capital with Thailand’s Nong Khai province via the Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge. When the extension is complete, it will have 11 km of track.
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