Introduction To Lao Railway Authority (LR)
“The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has made a strong contribution. Development Socio-economic development plan of the state in each period with the conquest of victories and achievements”
History
The Laos and Thai governments signed an agreement on 20 March 2004 to build the railway line from the middle of the ‘Mitraphab’ Friendship Bridge joining the Thai side track to Thanaleng. The track is 3.5km long starting at Nong Khai in Thailand and ends at Ban Thanaleng in Laos.
Lao people’s Democratic Republic have the very Short distance of Railway line from Nongkhai province (Thailand) To Thanaleng station (Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR)
5.5 km in Long with one station and one container yard, 800 m on the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, Single- Track Meter Gauge.
Institutional
The management Railways Ministry of Public Works and Transport which role has been appointed by the Minister of Ministry of Public Works and Transport ends document number 9481/while being. Dated 15/07/2009.
Status and Role
The management of road is the subject which has been assigned to pursue psychology to management, Administration and service to the railway. Most technically up to a railway.
Railway Network
From 1975 to 2013, the Ministry of Communications, Public Works and Transport went through the following stages:
From 1975 to 1982, it was called the Ministry of Communications, Public Works and Transport;
From 1982-1989, it was divided into three ministries: the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Material and Technical Affairs and the Ministry of Postal;
From 1989-2007, the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications were merged into the Ministry of Communications, Transport, Post and Construction;
From 2007 to the present (2013) it is called the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. The Post and Telecommunications Department was separated in 2007 into an agency equivalent to the Ministry. In 2011, the organization was upgraded to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications.
Passenger Operation
Now, LRA operate train come to Thanalengstation Two trip/day
- 1stTrip Nongkhai-Thanalengat 07:30 am/ Thanaleng-Nongkhaiat 10:00 am
- 2ndTrip Nongkhai-Thanalengat 14:45 pm /Thanaleng-Nongkhaiat 17:30 pm
- The passenger summary 35,000 passengers/year
Statistics Of Passengers
Freight Operation
- Opening Ceremony of the Transit Freight Train Cross LAO –THAI friendship Bridge No.1 1st August 2019.
- Cargo from Thailand to a container yard at Thanaleng Railway Station would be shipped by train for import-export of Laos.
Development Projects
The second phase (Phase 2) of the railway link is an extension of the existing link. It will include construction of a 7.5 km railway track from Thanaleng to Vientiane.
This project has been finished bidding for the construction this month.
- Number of main Line: Single Track
- Meter Gauge: 1000 m.
Lao-China Railways Project
Lao-China railway is rail infrastructure cooperation has been extensively conduct within southeast Asian country Asian countries under the release of ASEAN’s Master plan on ASEAN connectivity 2025 (MPA 2025 ) and the China’s initiative of belt on road.
Project Background
- The MoU signed on 7th April 2010:
- Of the Government of PR China and the Government of the Lao PDR agreed to cooperate in development of the Lao – China RW Project.
- Laos – china RW Working Group was established.
- Principles and Frameworks of the Cooperation were set up and endorsed.
- The MoM signed on 4th October 2010:
- The two governments discussed and enhance the agreed frameworks under the signed MoU.
- The agreed Principles and Frameworks were implemented.
- Feasibility Study began.
Investment and Financial Information
- Investment Pattern: PPP-BOT
- Investment type: Joint Investment ( JV )
- Cooperation Mechanism: G to G (with special incentives and supports from two Governments, Lao and China).
- Total Investment Cost: 5.9 Bill USD
- Share Portion: Laos 30% & China 70%
- Equity: 40%
- Debt Financing: 60%
Technical Information
- Railway Classification: Level 1.
- No. of Main Line: Single track.
Operating Speed
- Passenger trains: 160 km/h
- Freight trains: 120 km/h
Main Engineering Works
- Total Route Length= 409 Km
- ( from Lao – China border to Vientiane Capital )
- Sub-grade = 155 Km
- 75 tunnels = 198 Km
- There are 6 tunnels with an individual length > 8 Km
- The longest tunnel = 12.6 Km
- 167 medium, major & super major bridges = 61 Km
- Single track : 148 bridges
- Double track: 13 bridges
- Triple-track: 6 bridges
Engaged Contractors & Consultants
- Six Chinese Main Contractors.
- Three Chinese Construction Supervision Consultants.
- Three Chinese third –Party Testing Consultants.
- Qualified local Sub-contractors/Suppliers
- Construction Period: 5 years
- ( Jan 2017 – Dec 2021 )
Progress of Neighboring Connect Point railway with ASEAN.
Vientiane-Thakhek-Mu Gia-VungAng (Vietnam)
- Length 555 km (Lao side =452Km)
- Pre-feasibility study was completed in March 2011 by Chung Suk.Co; (Grant aid of Republic of Korea ROK);
- ROK granted 3 million USD for the Feasibility Study on Vientiane-Vung Ang railway link under the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation framework. It is being implemented since the end of 2015 to December 2017;
- Progress: Competed final report in November 2017.
Savannakhet – Lao Bao (Lao-Vietnam border)
- Pre-Feasibility Study was completed in September 2009 by Giant Group Co. Ltd (Malaysia) and feasibility study was completed in 2012.
- Now under review of feasibility study
- Progress: The alignment is being updated.
Thakhek-Savannakhet-Pakse-Vangtau (Lao-Thai border)
- Length 345 km.
- Pre-Feasibility Study completed in December 2013 by TESO Engineering Co. Ltd (Grant aid of ROK);
- Planning for Feasibility Study.
Pakse-Veunkham (Lao-Cambodia border)
- Length 150 Km.
- Planning for Feasibility Study.