Thai-Laos Train Exceeds Expectations with Over 200,000 Passengers in 7 Months, Cross-Border Travel Remains Low
Daily News, February 18, 2025, 8:56 AM
The Thai-Laos train service connecting Bangkok's Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Vientiane (Khamsavath) has been bustling with activity, exceeding its target of 200,000 passengers per year within just 7 months of operation. However, cross-border travel remains low, especially when not including those crossing at regular immigration checkpoints.
Mr. Virith Amrapal, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), stated in an interview with the "Daily News Transportation Innovation News Team" that the international train service between Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), launched on July 19, 2024, has been well-received by the public and tourists. The service offers a convenient, fast, and cost-effective mode of travel.
Mr. Virith further explained that the long-distance Train No. 133/134, running between Bangkok and Vientiane, consists of 10 carriages with a seating capacity of 564 passengers per train (reduced to 5 carriages at Nong Khai station). The average load factor is 78% and 79%, with an average of 737 and 698 passengers per day, respectively. This surpasses the target of 200,000 passengers per year (or an average of 550 passengers per day) set by Mr. Suriphong Piyachoti, Deputy Minister of Transport.
The train includes 5 carriages that travel to and from Vientiane station, comprising 2 second-class air-conditioned sleeper carriages, 1 second-class air-conditioned seating carriage, and 2 third-class carriages, with a total capacity of approximately 268 seats. These services have been consistently popular.
On the other hand, the short-distance Train No. 147/148, operating between Udon Thani and Vientiane, consists of 5 carriages with a total capacity of 268 seats. The average load factor is 11% and 10%, with an average of 38 and 35 passengers per day, respectively. Due to the low ridership on the short-distance service, the SRT may need to reconsider the operation of Train No. 147/148 to optimize its efficiency.
Mr. Virith also shared the passenger statistics for Train No. 133/134 between Bangkok and Vientiane. In the 2024 fiscal year (July - September 2024), there were 99,289 passengers. In the 2025 fiscal year (October - December 2024), there were 141,850 passengers. In total, from July to December 2024, there were 241,139 passengers.
Meanwhile, the statistics for passengers crossing the border at Vientiane (Khamsavath) station show 28,766 passengers in the 2024 fiscal year (July - September 2024) and 38,542 passengers in the 2025 fiscal year (October - December 2024), totaling 67,308 passengers from July to December 2024.
The "Daily News Transportation Innovation News Team" reports that although the long-distance train service has exceeded expectations, the number of passengers traveling to and from Vientiane (Khamsavath) station remains low. For instance, the average number of passengers traveling from Udon Thani is only 35-38 per day.
One of the main obstacles identified is the lack of a centralized immigration checkpoint at Vientiane (Khamsavath) station. This would provide greater convenience for passengers, eliminating the need for separate immigration checks at Nong Khai station, which can take 30-40 minutes.
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