China-Laos Railway marks four years with expanding regional impact

As of December 2, 2025, the China-Laos Railway has safely transported over 62.5 million passengers and 72.5 million tons of cargo in four years of operation. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

The China-Laos Railway has recorded steady and robust growth as it marks four years of safe operations, with more than 62.5 million passenger trips and 72.5 million tons of cargo handled to date, according to China State Railway Group (China Railway). The line's growing "golden corridor" effect is injecting new vitality into regional economic and social development.

Fast-growing corridor reshaping trade

The China-Laos Railway has established an efficient international logistics channel between China and ASEAN, significantly reducing transport times and costs. Daily cross-border freight trains have increased from 2 at launch to a peak of 23, with train capacity rising from 2,000 to 2,800 tons. Cross-border freight volume has exceeded 16 million tons, covering 31 Chinese provinces and 19 countries and regions, including Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, and over 3,800 types of goods are transported along the route.

Mohan railway port on the China-Laos border shows busy passenger and freight operations. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Regional hubs and industrial zones along the route are supporting distribution of steel, nonferrous metals, rubber, and developing modern industries such as new-energy batteries, biomedicine, new materials, and advanced manufacturing, contributing to production upgrading and expanding international trade.

Rising connectivity boosts flows

Passenger traffic on the China-Laos Railway has grown steadily over the past four years, with monthly volumes rising from 600,000 in the early days to a peak of 2.2 million. On the Chinese section, daily passenger trains increased from 8 to 86, carrying 51.34 million passengers; on the Laos section, daily trains rose from 4 to 18, ordinary trains expanded to over 10 cars, carrying 11.24 million passengers. International services between Kunming and Vientiane have increased to 4 trains daily, with each train's cross-border seating rising from 250 to 420, and daily cross-border passenger numbers growing from 300 to 1,400.

Travelers wait in line on the platform at Xishuangbanna Railway Station in southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

The China-Laos Railway has actively promoted the "rail + tourism" model in cooperation with tourism authorities from both countries, leveraging cross-border visa-free policies. Multiple tourism routes have been opened between Kunming and Vientiane, offering a wide variety of Laos travel packages. Over 640,000 visitors from more than 120 countries and regions — including Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, the United States, and the United Kingdom — have used international trains, boosting scenic spots, hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related industries along the route. This growing passenger flow, together with improved logistics and services, accelerates the movement of people, goods, capital, and information, reduces transportation costs (by 30–50% for goods from Kunming to Thailand via Laos, and 20–40% within Laos), and injects new vitality into regional economic development.

Strengthened cooperation and stable operations underpin growth

Behind the rising passenger and freight numbers is a strengthened operational framework. Authorities from both countries coordinate closely to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operations, using advanced technologies such as satellite mapping, drones, remote video monitoring, automated maintenance equipment, and flood prevention systems.

The railway has maintained over 1,400 consecutive days of safe operations, with more than 150,000 trains running without incident, including during extreme weather and seismic events. Joint protection mechanisms and public safety campaigns further safeguard infrastructure and operations.

Efforts to train local staff have been significant: 1,252 Chinese experts provided on-site guidance, 1,475 Laotian employees completed formal training, and 32 Laotian locomotive drivers are now qualified for independent operation. Alongside 82 assistant drivers, 16 conductors, and 160 team leaders, this forms the first generation of skilled Laotian railway technicians, ensuring long-term operational sustainability.