Bangkok-Vientiane train service begins

[Gaybutton]

The article doesn't say, but I read that the trip takes about 11 hours, give or take a half hour. The article says nothing about a dining car, so I'm guessing if you want to eat or drink, you better bring your own. I did read somewhere the train has a small dining facility, but no tables or chairs.
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Inaugural Bangkok-Vientiane Train Journey Departs with Full Passenger Load

By Kittisak Phalaharn

21 July, 2024

On July 20th, 2024, the Bangkok-Vientiane international train No. 133, embarked on its first-ever voyage yesterday, carrying a full load of 300 passengers. The journey encountered a slight delay, arriving at the Nong Khai Station 20 minutes behind schedule.

Upon arrival at Nong Khai Station, the Station Master Weera Charoenrang, along with immigration officers and related agencies, were on hand to ensure the smooth transit of passengers, both locals and tourists, preparing to continue their journey to Vientiane, Laos.

Six immigration booths were fully staffed to handle the influx of passengers for immigration checks. The border formalities, including immigration, customs, and health checks, took approximately 40 minutes. After completing these procedures, the passengers reboarded the train for the final 20-minute leg to Khamsawat station in Vientiane.

The Bangkok-Vientiane international train service offers daily round trips with various classes of service:

* The third-class (fan) seats, accommodating 152 passengers, are priced at 281 baht.

* Second-class air-conditioned seats, with 64 seats available, cost 574 baht.

* For those seeking more comfort, second-class air-conditioned sleeper cars offer 30 berths, priced at 784 baht for upper berths and 874 baht for lower berths.

These prices are based on departures from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue Grand Station), with fares decreasing for passengers boarding at intermediate stations.

Those interested in experiencing the Bangkok-Vientiane train can purchase tickets and make reservations up to 180 days in advance at any train station across Thailand.

Passengers are required to carry a passport or border pass for the necessary customs and immigration procedures at Nong Khai and Vientiane (Khamsawat) stations before crossing the border.

This new service promises to enhance connectivity and foster closer ties between Thailand and Laos, offering a convenient and scenic travel option for passengers heading to the Laotian capital.

Story and photos: https://tpnnational.com/2024/07/21/inau ... nger-load/

[Jun]

Trains in Thailand typically have vendors who hop on the train for a part of the trip to sell food. So if you don't have specific dietary requirements, you don't have to go hungry.

Here's the report from Richard Barrow: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/xXpQtnn3hx5poHo5/

I suspect the old way of getting a train to Nong Khai and the regular city bus from just across the border into the city centre would be quicker.

[Gaybutton]

I suspect the old way of getting a train to Nong Khai and the regular city bus from just across the border into the city centre would be quicker.

If it were me I would fly to Vientiane, or to Udon Thani and then take the bus (which I've done before). I might take the train, just for the experience, for the trip back to Bangkok.

I'd be more inclined to try the train once they finally put in bullet trains - if they ever do. I don't expect to see any signs of bullet trains until they put in the tram in Pattaya. Remember that? And I'm still waiting for those underground toilets along Jomtien Beach . . .

"An initiative is a project idea that isn't going anywhere."
- George Carlin

[Jun]

I've tried train to Nong Khai, flying to Udon Thani & flying to Vientiane. The train is good mainly if you like trains or want to stop at other places on the way. Flying one way and taking the train the other is a nice compromise.

I don't think they've even started construction on a high speed rail line to Pattaya yet ? I keep looking for evidence.

They have already poured millions of tonnes of concrete on two other main lines, but despite all the fancy elevated lines and huge stations, I've yet to see high speed trains.
Meanwhile, in the UK, some train operators manage to operate 150 mph trains on the Victorian era rail lines. We have minor changes to alignment etc, but not the expensive elevated lines and enormous stations that Thailand is fond of.

Incidentally, the new Lao-Thai station in Vientiane is rather large, considering it's for 2 trains a day. There's a separate & enormous Lao-China station, miles out of town in the countryside.

As for underground toilets, I've seen those in places like London & Berlin. Jomtien should keep above ground toilets. Particularly with the flood risk. They get drains back flowing at ground level, never mind underground. Would you risk that if it were about to rain ?

[Gaybutton]

As a reminder for those of you holding long time visas, such as the retirement visa, don't forget that no matter how you travel, if you go outside of Thailand then you will need to obtain a reentry permit before you go. If you don't get the permit, then upon return to Thailand your visa is now null and void and you are on the visa free privilege for 30 days, 60 days, or whatever it is.

[christianpfc]

Meanwhile, in the UK, some train operators manage to operate 150 mph trains on the Victorian era rail lines.

On standard gauge 1435 mm. Thailand operates on meter gauge 1000 mm, which does them a huge disservice (less stable, i.e. driver slower and more prone to accidents, not compatible with China Railways).

As far as I could see on google maps satellite image and user pictures, the railway line to Vientiane Thais is meter gauge only. Lao-China is standard gauge. There is a connection by rail, but obviously not used for passenger trains at the moment. Whoever wants to continue to China, would have to cover the distance between both railway stations by road.

[Jun]

On standard gauge 1435 mm. Thailand operates on meter gauge 1000 mm, which does them a huge disservice (less stable, i.e. driver slower and more prone to accidents, not compatible with China Railways).

1 Malaysia runs trains at over 140 km/h on metre gauge. Which is a fair bit faster than Thailand, but not exactly high speed.

2 If, as seems likely, the gauge is the limiting factor, they're wasting their money building all these expensive elevated tracks and enormous elevated stations for small & slow trains on the same gauge as before. Building huge elevated stations like Khon Kaen is a waste of money unless you improve the rail service sufficiently to attract many more passengers.

Far better to re-gauge the existing line and try to run some faster trains. Once you have fast trains, it's far harder for the buses to compete.

Re-gauging should not be that difficult. Back in 1892, they re-gauged 177 miles of track in the UK in a weekend. That's when we had Victorian Capitalists, with a can do attitude. I suspect neither the UK nor Thailand would get anywhere near that in a weekend these days. Despite some quite useful track laying machines being available.

These days, Thailand needs 2 weeks to clean some dust out of a 5km tunnel.

[Jun]

I think this is saying they will only run the train from Nong Khai to Vientiane.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 6279876123

So:
1 Years ago, Laos initially built a station just over the border, which no one uses, as that's not where they want to go.
2 Laos then built an enormous station in the suburbs of Vientiane. I would suggest that's not where people want to go either, as most want to go to the centre of Vientiane, or to connect with the Laos-China railway (which has a station in the wilderness miles out of the city).
3 Then, if I understand correctly, they will now run the train from Nong Kai to Vientiane (suburbs) only.

Who is going to wait for a train that goes half way to Vientiane, when you can cross the border and take a bus that goes all the way to Vientiane ?
Or take a bus that goes directly to the Laos-China railway ?

With misallocation of capital like this, is it any wonder that the Lao economy is in a mess ?
Not good for the Lao people, but the one side effect that's positive for board members is a large number of Lao money boys in Thailand. On a per capita basis, they are very well represented.

[KeithAmbrose]

On standard gauge 1435 mm. Thailand operates on meter gauge 1000 mm, which does them a huge disservice (less stable, i.e. driver slower and more prone to accidents, not compatible with China Railways).

1 Malaysia runs trains at over 140 km/h on metre gauge. Which is a fair bit faster than Thailand, but not exactly high speed.

2 If, as seems likely, the gauge is the limiting factor, they're wasting their money building all these expensive elevated tracks and enormous elevated stations for small & slow trains on the same gauge as before. Building huge elevated stations like Khon Kaen is a waste of money unless you improve the rail service sufficiently to attract many more passengers.

Far better to re-gauge the existing line and try to run some faster trains. Once you have fast trains, it's far harder for the buses to compete.

Re-gauging should not be that difficult. Back in 1892, they re-gauged 177 miles of track in the UK in a weekend. That's when we had Victorian Capitalists, with a can do attitude. I suspect neither the UK nor Thailand would get anywhere near that in a weekend these days. Despite some quite useful track laying machines being available.

These days, Thailand needs 2 weeks to clean some dust out of a 5km tunnel.

Don't forget all the brown envelopes that go build to bigger and better stations, and elevated tracks!

[Jun]

Don't forget all the brown envelopes that go build to bigger and better stations, and elevated tracks!

Thank you for the reminder. Here's a link to an aerial photo of Khon Kaen railway station, since my camera can't fit it all in. Have a look at the cars to get a sense of scale.

They run about 4 trains a day in each direction & when I was last there, the train length was about 20% of the platform length. So the station is 5x longer than it needs to be. One one visit, I counted about 20 passengers getting off at Khon Kaen.

Just in case anyone thinks this is for high speed trains, well apparently Khon Kaen gets another elevated station for that. Besides, high speed trains need a wider gauge.



https://www.shutterstock.com/image-phot ... 2290202691