BOOK YOUR TRAINS IN LAOS

Travellers can reserve trains in Laos and purchase the tickets at the railway station starting from two days before departure.

Laos-China Railway provides ticket booking for 6 stations in Laos, including Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Muang Xay, Luang Namtha and Boten.

China Railway also provides ticket booking for international train routes connecting Laos with China.

Train companies in Laos

The railway network in Laos is managed by Laos-China Railway (LCR), a joint venture company participated by Laos and China governments. In the present, trains transiting the Laos railway network are pulled by electric locomotives circulating at a speed of 120-160 km/h.

Laos-China Railway

Laos-China Railway (LCR) operates two types of train services:

• - High-speed trains
• - Ordinary trains

High-speed trains

The high-speed railway service is operated with CR200J trainsets running at a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

High-speed trains are designated by a letter identifying the class of service followed by two numerals:

• - C8x is the daily service stopping at all the stations.
• - C9x is the daily service stopping at the major stations.

The high-speed trains offer two seat passenger classes:

• - First class Seat
• - Second class Seat

Ordinary trains

The ordinary railway service is operated with HXD3CA locomotives running at a maximum speed of 120 km/h.

Ordinary trains are designated by a letter identifying the class of service followed by two numerals:

• - K1x is the daily service stopping at all the stations.

The ordinary trains offer one seat passenger class:

• - Hard Seat

Getting around Laos by train

Laos has 422 km of standard gauge electrified railway tracks.

The terminus stations are Vientiane and Boten. The intermediate stations are Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Muang Xay and Luang Namtha.

The railway network comprises a single line that traverses Laos and links the Kunming–Yuxi–Mohan railway in China through Boten–Mohan in the north with the SRT Northeastern Line in Thailand through Vientiane–Nong Khai in the south. This railway is part of the future Kunming–Singapore railway corridor that will connect China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

• Vientiane–Boten railway

Vientiane–Boten railway

The Vientiane–Boten railway is the main railway line that links the capital of Laos with the border of China.

Trains depart from Vientiane Railway Station bound to Boten Railway Station.

The major cities served by the line include Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Muang Xay and Luang Namtha.

This line consists of several passenger services: C8x is the high-speed service stopping at all the stations, whereas C9x is the high-speed service stopping at the major stations; K1x is the ordinary service stopping at all the stations.

International trains from Laos

Laos has a direct international railway connection with China through the Boten–Mohan border checkpoint in Luang Namtha Province and Thailand through Khamsavath railway station in Vientiane.

China

Laos is connected with direct international trains to Xishuangbanna and Kunming in China.

How to book train tickets in Laos

Online ticket booking is not available for Laos-China Railway (LCR).

Passengers are required to purchase the tickets at the railway station and scan their identity card or passport. Ticket sale officially opens two days before departure.

The full name and the passport number will be printed on the ticket. Before boarding the train, passengers must present their identity card or passport to validate the tickets.