VIENTIANE, Oct 17 (NNN-KPL) – The streamlined “China-standard” bullet train, or electric multiple unit (EMU) train, of the China-Laos railway, arrived at the newly built China-Laos Railway Vientiane Station yesterday.
The EMU train was officially delivered to the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd., a joint venture based in the Lao capital Vientiane, in charge of the railway’s construction and operation, at a handover ceremony, held at the station with the attendance of Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Jiang Zaidong and Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport, Viengsavath Siphandone.
The EMU, named Lane Xang, is to be put into the upcoming railway trial run. Laos was once called the Lane Xang (million elephants) Kingdom. Lane Xang, also known as Lancang, the name of the upper section of the Mekong River in China, symbolises the China-Laos relationship as good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners.
Ambassador Jiang said, in his speech at yesterday’s ceremony that, Laos receives the first modern train in her history is decisive progress in the construction of the China-Laos railway, and it is also a landmark achievement of the strategic docking between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub.
“According to the current progress of construction, the Lao side proposed the coming Lao National Day (Dec 2), as the target node to achieve official opening, and we are encouraged and willing to work with the Lao side to realise it,” the Chinese ambassador said.
Jiang said, after the opening ceremony, journey time from Vientiane to the China-Laos border will be shortened from two days to three hours, and to Kunming by just overnight, which means a leapfrog development in the connectivity between China and Laos.
Minister Viengsavath said, the design and manufacture of the EMU train is an important part of the building of the Laos-China railway and the Lao government attaches great importance to it. Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, organised the validation of the design plan, while Lao Prime Minister, Phankham Viphavanh, decided the naming of the train.
The successful delivery of the Lane Xang EMU, marks the beginning of the operation period of the Laos-China Railway and the conclusion of the construction period, and also announces that Laos has stepped into a new era of railway transportation, and the Lao people have ushered in a new era of transportation upgrade, said the Lao minister.
The Lane Xang EMU is produced by Chinese company CRRC Corporation, with its design based on the Fuxing bullet train.
The Lane Xang EMU is painted in the Lao flag colors of red, blue, and white. The interior design integrates elements of traditional Chinese and Lao cultures, embodying the Lao people’s vision of a better life and friendship between the two peoples.
According to the China State Railway Group, the Lane Xang train, with the maximum operating speed of 160 km per hour, consists of nine carriages, including a locomotive, a dining coach, a first-class and six second-class coaches, and provides altogether 720 seats.
The China-Laos Railway is a docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos’ strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub.
The construction of the project started in Dec, 2016, and is scheduled to be completed and operational by Dec this year.– NNN-KPL
