The China-Laos rail line has safely handled over 50 million passenger trips since its launch on December 3, 2021, China Railway Kunming Group announced.
The operator said that it had provided 71,000 passenger train trips on the railway, serving more than 480,000 international travellers from 112 countries and regions worldwide.
The railway operator has observed sustained growth in passenger traffic, with monthly ridership surging from 600,000 people during the initial operational phase to 1.6 million across the entire route.
Railway authorities from China and Laos have partnered with tourism departments to promote international travel services along the railway, bringing vigor to tourism-related industries, including scenic spots, hotels, and restaurants near the route, according to the company.
Moreover, the service along the China-Laos rail line has been upgraded for passengers, now featuring multilingual support, including Chinese, Lao and English, through translation devices at stations and onboard trains, alongside health-focused amenities such as portable blood pressure monitors.
A flagship project within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the 1,035-km railway links Kunming of southwest China’s Yunnan Province and the Laotian capital of Vientiane. It has significantly enhanced regional connectivity, boosted regional economic growth, facilitated people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and demonstrated great development potential as a golden transport corridor.
In addition, along the China-Laos rail line containerize cargo with Thai fruits are loaded onto the Thailand-Laos Express bound for China, while shipments of Chinese beer, medicinal balms and other daily necessities embark on their journey to Thailand. This route has become a “golden corridor” for cultural exchanges and booming trade between China and Thailand.
Since the launch of direct China – Laos – Thailand railway transport in July 2022, a total of 451 freight trains have operated as of February 5, 2025, handling 230,200 tonnes of transshipped goods. 2024 has been particularly remarkable, with 272 trains transporting 144,900 tonnes of cargo, representing a Y-O-Y increase of 60% and 71.7%, respectively, highlighting the railway’s strong growth momentum.
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