Laos plans to begin work on Laos-Vietnam railway in 2021
The Lao Government has entrusted the Petroleum Trading Lao Public Company (PetroTrade) to conduct a feasibility study on a Laos-Vietnam railway project, the Vientiane Times reported.
Vientiane (VNA) – The Lao Government hasentrusted the Petroleum Trading Lao Public Company (PetroTrade) to conduct afeasibility study on a Laos-Vietnam railway project, the Vientiane Timesreported.
On behalf of the Lao Government, the Ministry ofPlanning and Investment and PetroTrade signed a memorandum of understanding onOctober 15 to study and complete a detailed design of the railway.
The route will run from Thakhaek district inKhammuan province of Laos to the Vietnamese border to connect with Vung Angseaport in Vietnam’s central Ha Tinh province. It will connect Laos to theASEAN region and enable the development of infrastructure and facilities fortrade-investment and agriculture, which gives Laos the potential to become amodern and industrialised country.
The railway will also transform Laos from alandlocked to a land-linked country, connecting regionally to realise thesocio-economic development plan, according to the Vientiane Times.
PetroTrade Chairman Chanthone Sitthixay said therailway will cover a distance of between 240km and 270km, including about 150kmon the Lao side and another 120km on the Vietnamese side. After obtainingpermission from the Vietnamese Government, the company will continue the surveyfrom the Vietnamese border to the Vung Ang seaport.
He noted the survey and design will be completedin 8-12 months. Later if the firm obtains official permission from the Lao andVietnamese governments, construction of the railway shall be initiated at theend of 2021 and expected to be completed by 2024.
It will be a single-track railway in line withinternational standards to accommodate cargo and passenger transport with aspeed of between 90 and 120km per hour, using equipment and technology fromIndonesia, he said, adding that the project investment value will be determinedand announced at future press conferences./.
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A train in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) 
