Thanaleng Railway Station
Encyclopedia
Thanaleng Railway Station, also known as Dongphosy Station (Ban Dong Phosy in Lao
), is a railway station in Dongphosy village, Hadxaifong district, Laos
, 20 km (12.4 mi) east of the Lao capital city of Vientiane
and 4 km (2.5 mi) north of the border between Laos and Thailand
along the Mekong River
. The station opened on March 5, 2009, becoming part of the first international railway link serving Laos. Originally intended for use as a passenger station, Lao officials have stated their intention to convert it to a rail freight terminal to provide a low-cost alternative to road freight, the main mode of transport for goods entering Thailand. It provides a connection between Vientiane and the capital cities of three other ASEAN nations (Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore
), and several major Southeast Asian ports.
's Northeastern Line from Nong Khai
to Thanalaeng, a town on the opposite side of the Mekong
in Laos. The Thai government agreed to finance the line through a combination of grant and loan. The estimated cost of the Nong Khai–Thanaleng line was US$
6.2 million, of which 70% was financed by Thai loans. Construction formally began on January 19, 2007, and test trains began running on July 4, 2008. Formal inauguration occurred on March 5, 2009. Thanaleng station is the only station on the Lao portion side of the Bangkok—Thanaleng railway.
announced that it had approved funding for a second phase of the Thanaleng railway, an extension to Vientiane. The cost of this second phase was estimated at US$ 13.2 million, including the cost of feasibility studies, infrastructure and equipment. A US$ 50 million loan was also reportedly received from the Thai government for the extension. Construction was originally slated to begin in December 2010, and Lao railway officials had confirmed as late as September 2010 that plans would go ahead. The extension, which would have taken an estimated three years to complete, would have stretched 9 km (5.6 mi) from Thanaleng to a new main station in Khamsavat village in Vientiane's Xaysettha district, 4 km (2.5 mi) away from That Luang Temple
.
In November 2010, however, Lao and Thai officials confirmed that their joint extension project had been scrapped in favor of a high-speed train project supported by the governments of Thailand and China, which would pass through Laos. The project, which would link Nong Khai
with the Chinese city of Kunming
, would involve the construction of a new bridge across the Mekong, closer to Vientiane. After reviewing the project, Lao officials decided that Thanaleng station would be converted into a terminal for freight trains crossing over the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
; freight could then be transported from Bangkok into Laos at a lower cost than would be possible with road transport.
, in Dongphosy village. Travellers arriving at the station must arrange their own travel onward into Vientiane, or use tuk-tuks or buses that may be stationed there to await travellers. A transfer counter now operates at the station, where passengers requiring transfer into Vientiane pay a flat rate for transportation into the city, by tuk-tuk or minivan
.
Lao visas are available on arrival at Thanaleng, costing US$
35. Entry and exit fees are collected at the station upon embarking or disembarking.
As of September 2010, an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 passengers were said to use the Nong Khai
–Thanaleng train daily. Trains consisted of two coaches, each of which carryied up to 80 passengers. Fares between Nong Khai and Thanaleng are at 20 baht
one-way. Tickets onward to Bangkok
may be purchased at the station; passengers travelling through must alight the train at Nong Khai to pass through Thai customs and immigration.
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Lao language
Lao or Laotian is a tonal language of the Tai–Kadai language family. It is the official language of Laos, and also spoken in the northeast of Thailand, where it is usually referred to as the Isan language. Being the primary language of the Lao people, Lao is also an important second language for...
), is a railway station in Dongphosy village, Hadxaifong district, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, 20 km (12.4 mi) east of the Lao capital city of Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
and 4 km (2.5 mi) north of the border between Laos and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
along the Mekong River
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
. The station opened on March 5, 2009, becoming part of the first international railway link serving Laos. Originally intended for use as a passenger station, Lao officials have stated their intention to convert it to a rail freight terminal to provide a low-cost alternative to road freight, the main mode of transport for goods entering Thailand. It provides a connection between Vientiane and the capital cities of three other ASEAN nations (Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
), and several major Southeast Asian ports.
History
On March 20, 2004, an agreement between the Thai and Lao governments was signed to extend the State Railway of ThailandState Railway of Thailand
The State Railway of Thailand is the state-owned rail operator in Thailand. The network sees around 50 million passengers per annum.-History:SRT was founded as the Royal State Railways of Siam in 1890...
's Northeastern Line from Nong Khai
Nong Khai
Nong Khai is a city in North-East Thailand and is the capital of the Nong Khai Province...
to Thanalaeng, a town on the opposite side of the Mekong
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
in Laos. The Thai government agreed to finance the line through a combination of grant and loan. The estimated cost of the Nong Khai–Thanaleng line was US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
6.2 million, of which 70% was financed by Thai loans. Construction formally began on January 19, 2007, and test trains began running on July 4, 2008. Formal inauguration occurred on March 5, 2009. Thanaleng station is the only station on the Lao portion side of the Bangkok—Thanaleng railway.
Proposed extension
On February 22, 2006, after the conclusion of a trilateral agreement between Thailand, Laos and France, the French Development AgencyFrench Development Agency
French Development Agency is the French international development agency.The Agence Française de Développement is a public institution providing development financing...
announced that it had approved funding for a second phase of the Thanaleng railway, an extension to Vientiane. The cost of this second phase was estimated at US$ 13.2 million, including the cost of feasibility studies, infrastructure and equipment. A US$ 50 million loan was also reportedly received from the Thai government for the extension. Construction was originally slated to begin in December 2010, and Lao railway officials had confirmed as late as September 2010 that plans would go ahead. The extension, which would have taken an estimated three years to complete, would have stretched 9 km (5.6 mi) from Thanaleng to a new main station in Khamsavat village in Vientiane's Xaysettha district, 4 km (2.5 mi) away from That Luang Temple
Pha That Luang
Pha That Luang is a gold-covered large Buddhist stupa in the centre of Vientiane, Laos. Since its initial establishment suggested to be in the 3rd century, the stupa has undergone several reconstructions until the 1930s due to foreign invasions to the area...
.
In November 2010, however, Lao and Thai officials confirmed that their joint extension project had been scrapped in favor of a high-speed train project supported by the governments of Thailand and China, which would pass through Laos. The project, which would link Nong Khai
Nong Khai
Nong Khai is a city in North-East Thailand and is the capital of the Nong Khai Province...
with the Chinese city of Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
, would involve the construction of a new bridge across the Mekong, closer to Vientiane. After reviewing the project, Lao officials decided that Thanaleng station would be converted into a terminal for freight trains crossing over the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
The First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge is a bridge over the Mekong, connecting Nong Khai province and the city of Nong Khai in Thailand with Vientiane Prefecture in Laos - the city of Vientiane is approximately 20 km from the bridge...
; freight could then be transported from Bangkok into Laos at a lower cost than would be possible with road transport.
Facilities
Thanaleng Station is in a somewhat isolated area southeast of VientianeVientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
, in Dongphosy village. Travellers arriving at the station must arrange their own travel onward into Vientiane, or use tuk-tuks or buses that may be stationed there to await travellers. A transfer counter now operates at the station, where passengers requiring transfer into Vientiane pay a flat rate for transportation into the city, by tuk-tuk or minivan
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
.
Lao visas are available on arrival at Thanaleng, costing US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
35. Entry and exit fees are collected at the station upon embarking or disembarking.
As of September 2010, an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 passengers were said to use the Nong Khai
Nong Khai
Nong Khai is a city in North-East Thailand and is the capital of the Nong Khai Province...
–Thanaleng train daily. Trains consisted of two coaches, each of which carryied up to 80 passengers. Fares between Nong Khai and Thanaleng are at 20 baht
Thai baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang . The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.-History:The baht, like the pound, originated from a traditional unit of mass...
one-way. Tickets onward to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
may be purchased at the station; passengers travelling through must alight the train at Nong Khai to pass through Thai customs and immigration.
External links
- Thai-Laos Rail Link, Thailand. Railway-technology.com.
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