Boten–Vientiane railway

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China–Laos railway
Bridge construction in Luang Prabang Province 2.jpg
Bridge construction near Luang Prabang.
Overview
StatusUnder construction
Owner
LocaleLaos
Service
Operator(s)
History
CommencedDecember 2016[1]
Planned openingDecember 2021[2]
Technical
Line length414[3] km (257 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line
Operating speed160 km/h (passengers)
120 km/h (cargo)[1]

The Boten–Vientiane railway (often referred to as the China–Laos railway) is a 414 kilometres (257 mi) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge electrified railway under construction in Laos, between the capital Vientiane and the small town of Boten on the border with China. It is the most expensive and largest project ever to be constructed in Laos.[4]

In the north the line will be connected to the Chinese rail system in Mohan, through the Yuxi–Mohan railway. In the south it meets the existing metre-gauge railway in Thanaleng, linking it via Nong Khai in Thailand to Bangkok. A high-speed, standard gauge extension to Bangkok is also under construction. When finished, the Boten–Vientiane railway will form an important part of the Kunming–Singapore railway.

China aims to build a 5,500-km trans-Asia railway, which begins in Yunnan's provincial capital Kunming and travels through Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia, before ending in Singapore, according to Ding He, a deputy project manager for the China–Laos railway project.[5] The Boten–Vientiane railway is part of the Belt and Road Initiative.[6][7]

Background[]

Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, which gives it a competitive disadvantage in trade.[8] During the French rule, the French failed to materialize a possible plan to build a railway in Laos, with only the 7 km Don Det–Don Khon railway being completed.[9] A railway link through Laos would greatly reduce cargo transit times and transportation costs between Laos and China.[8] The railway would also be a link in the Kunming–Singapore railway network, as well as a program within the One Belt One Road Initiative.

The railway is also expected to boost tourism, with passenger traffic to account for the majority of traffic on the line.[7][10] The Thai province of Nong Khai is also expected to gain more visitors through the railway, as well as fruit exports from Thailand to China benefiting from reduced transportation costs.[11]

History[]

The first talks about the railway linking Laos and China were in 2001, Laotian and Chinese politicians both confirmed the plans in 2009. Lao politician of Chinese descent Somsavat Lengsavad was reportedly the driving force behind the project on the Laotian side. After construction work worth 1.2 billion $ was awarded to the China Railway Group in September 2015.[6] After the corruption scandal of China's minister of railways Liu Zhijun, the start of construction was delayed until early 2016.[12]

Construction began at Luang Prabang on December 25, 2016.[13] At the end of 2017, the construction phase was 20% completed,[14] and in September 2019 progress was reported as 80% completed.[15] Unexploded bombs that have been dropped during the Vietnam War will also be removed along the route.[16]

As of June 2020, Chinese state media reported that the US$6 billion project was 90% done. Work crews started laying track in Laos in March 2020, five years after breaking ground. With all of the many dozen tunnels and bridges completed, service is set to start in December 2021.[17] In April 2021 the northernmost section in Luang Namtha Province was 97% complete. Track laying of the last started section in Oudomxay Province, would be completed in May, leaving the project well on track for a 2021 opening.[18]

List of stations[]

There are 32 stations along Boten–Vientiane railway line,[19] though only 20 stations are actually under construction, including 10 passenger stations and 10 cargo stations:[20][21][22]

Station name Type
Bo Ten Passenger station
Na Toey Passenger station - Major station
Na Moh Passenger station
Na Thong Cargo station
Mueang Xai Passenger station - Major station
Na Khok Cargo station
Mueang Nga Passenger station
Huay Han Cargo station
Luang Phrabang Passenger station - Major station
Xiang Ngoen Cargo station
Sala Phu Khun Cargo station
Mueang Kasi Passenger station
Ban Pha Daeng Cargo station
Vang Vieng Passenger station - Major station
Vang Khee Cargo station
Phone Hong Passenger station
Ban Saka Cargo station
Vientiane North Cargo station
Vientiane Passenger station - Major station
Vientiane South Cargo station

Financing[]

The cost of the project is estimated at 5.965 billion US dollars[23] or 37425 million Renminbi.[24] The railway is funded by 60% of debt financing (3.6 billion US$) from the Export-Import Bank of China and the remaining 40% (2.4 billion US$) is funded by a joint venture company between the two countries. China holds 70% of the stake of the company. Of the rest of the stake, Lao government disburses 250 million US$ from its national budget and borrows 480 million US$ further from the Export-Import Bank of China.[25]

Debt trap concern[]

There is a global concern that the railway project, along with others, could make Laos fall into a Chinese debt trap.[26][25][27]

In 2019, the Lowy Institute estimated Laos' debt to China at 45 percent of its GDP.[26] In 2020, Fitch Ratings assigned Laos a 'CCC' credit rating, mentioning its excessive debt amount.[4]

Infrastructure[]

Viaduct under construction near Vientiane.

Forty-seven percent of the railway will be in 75 tunnels and 15% will pass over viaducts spread over 167 bridges.[12] There are 32 planned stations along the route.[13] The final station would be Thanaleng station, not Vientiane Station. Xay Village in Xaythany District is to be the site of , the largest station on the railway. The station will consist of four platforms with seven track lines and two additional platforms with three lines reserved. It is expected to connect with other railway lines planned for Laos. The station will accommodate up to 2,500 passengers with a total area of 14,543 square meters.[28]

The railway is being built to China's GB Grade 1 standard, suitable for 160 km/h passenger and 120 km/h freight trains, making Laos the first country to connect to the Chinese railway network using Chinese technology.[10]

A new bridge will be constructed by 2023 from Thanaleng to Nong Khai to connect the high speed rail network into Thailand.

Rolling stock[]

A CR200J series EMU

CR200JS-G EDMUs for passenger service, and HXD1D locomotives for freight,[citation needed] will be used by Laos Railways on Boten-Vientiane railway.[29][30]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Laos-China railway brings changes to Laos". China Daily. 7 August 2017.
  2. ^ "China's rail network opens up transport links in Laos". The Star. 20 Jan 2020.
  3. ^ "China–Laos railway project set to be complete by late 2021". People's Daily. 20 November 2017.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "China's debt-trap diplomacy: Laos' credit rating downgraded to CCC". Thailand Business News. 2 November 2020.
  5. ^ "China–Laos railway achieves tech breakthrough". China Daily. 30 April 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Land-locked Laos on track for controversial China rail link". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Transforming Lao PDR from a Land-locked to a Land-linked Economy". World Bank. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "How Laos is overcoming landlockedness and bolstering growth". East Asia Forum. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  9. ^ Freeman, Nick (2019-12-11). "Laos' high-speed railway coming round the bend". ThinkChina - Big reads, Opinion & Columns on China. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Brian King. "Chinese railway could put Laos on the tourist map". CNN. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  11. ^ "Laos' China-backed railway: hopes in Thailand, fears in Luang Prabang". South China Morning Post. 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "Land-locked Laos on track for controversial China rail link". Nikkei Asian Review. 24 June 2017.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Everything You Need to Know About the Laos–China Railway". The Laotian Times. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  14. ^ "Laos–China railway '20.3 per cent complete', compensation still unpaid". The Nation. 7 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-06-12.
  15. ^ "Nearly 80 pct of China–Laos railway construction completed". Xinhua News Agency. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  16. ^ "Unexploded ordnance to be cleaned along Laos–China railway". China Internet Information Center.
  17. ^ http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-09/29/c_139406173.htm
  18. ^ "ການກໍ່ສ້າງພື້ນຖານໂຄງສ້າງທາງລົດໄຟ ລາວ-ຈີນ ໄລຍະທາງຜ່ານແຂວງຫຼວງນ້ຳທາ ສຳເລັດແລ້ວ 97%" [Construction of Lao-China Railway Infrastructure via Luang Namtha Province Completed 97%]. Target Magazine (in Lao). Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  19. ^ http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/2018-03/28/c_129839102.htm
  20. ^ http://www.crceg.com/tabid/245/InfoID/6757/frtid/140/Default.aspx
  21. ^ http://www.cnbridge.cn/html/2020/news_0324/189487.html
  22. ^ https://www.163.com/dy/article/F0L0II9D0511T04N.html
  23. ^ https://www.laophattananews.com/archives/104919
  24. ^ http://www.cnbridge.cn/html/2020/news_0324/189487.html
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b "Can Laos profit from China rail link despite being US$1.5 billion in debt?". South China Morning Post. 10 December 2019.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b "Laos Stumbles Under Rising Chinese Debt Burden". The Diplomat. 7 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Taking power - Chinese firm to run Laos electric grid amid default warnings". Reuters. 4 September 2020.
  28. ^ Phonevilay, Latsamy (4 July 2020). "Construction of Vientiane Station Commences on Laos–China Railway". The Laotian Times. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  29. ^ "Công ty Đường sắt Lào Trung mua hai đoàn tàu CR200J của Trung Quốc". tapchilaoviet.org (in Vietnamese). 29 September 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  30. ^ ""绿巨人"CR200J动车将跑上中老铁路，昆明直达老挝首都|界面新闻". www.jiemian.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-07-02.

External links[]

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