China-Laos Railway passes 80 million cumulative passenger trips
In short
Cumulative passenger trips on the China-Laos Railway passed 80 million as of October 9, counted from the opening of the full line, China Railway Kunming Group said. The line has run 3,913 international passenger trains, which carried 950,000 cross-border passengers from more than 120 countries and regions. This year 270,000 cross-border passengers have travelled on the line, up 36.6% from a year earlier.
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Cumulative passenger trips on the China-Laos Railway passed 80 million as of October 9, counted from the opening of the full line, China Railway Kunming Group said, according to China News Service and a CCTV News report carried by Jiemian. Yicai also reported the 80 million figure. Jiemian's report described the line as running from Kunming in the north to Vientiane in the south. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Over nearly five years of operation, monthly passenger trips on the whole line rose from 600,000 at opening to a peak of 2.25 million, both reports said. Daily passenger trains on the domestic section rose from 8 to a peak of 86, and on the Laos section from 4 to a peak of 18. The reports disagree on the domestic section's single-day peak: the CCTV News report carried by Jiemian puts it at more than 1.9 million passenger trips, while China News Service gives more than 65,000. Jiemian's report also said conventional-speed trains on the Laos section had been lengthened to 10 or more cars, and that the Laos section's single-day peak was 12,000 passenger trips. [ 2 , 3 ]
Since international passenger trains began running in April 2023, daily trains between Kunming and Vientiane have risen from 2 to 4, and cross-border seats per train from 250 to 420, Jiemian's report said. It said the fastest journey takes 9 hours 36 minutes, clearance at the Mohan (磨憨) railway port has been cut to 50 minutes, and daily entries and exits have risen from 300 at first to a peak of 1,640. Both reports said the line has run 3,913 international passenger trains, which carried 950,000 cross-border passengers from more than 120 countries and regions. [ 2 , 3 ]
Railway authorities have set up dedicated ticket windows for international passengers at stations along the line. Thirteen passenger stations on the China section accept foreign bank cards and several types of foreign identity documents for ticket purchases, and Mohan station offers renminbi cash withdrawals. Ticketing on the Laos section has been upgraded and online payment options expanded. Jiemian's report said service in Chinese, Lao and English is offered at Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Mohan stations and on international passenger trains. [ 2 , 3 ]
This year the line has carried 270,000 cross-border passengers, up 36.6% from a year earlier, both reports said. The CCTV News report carried by Jiemian put total passenger trips this year at more than 16 million, up 5.0%, and said spending at scenic spots, hotels and restaurants along the line had grown by more than 35%. Railway authorities run tourist trains including the Xingguang Lanmei (星光·澜湄号), Caiyun zhi Nan Kunming (彩云之南·昆明号) and Xiangwang (象往号). According to Jiemian's report, these trains link Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Xishuangbanna with cross-border routes from Kunming to Luang Prabang and Vientiane. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The figures show cross-border travel between China and Laos growing on the line. Jiemian, carrying a CCTV News report, said cross-border passengers had driven more than 35% growth in spending at scenic spots, hotels and restaurants along the route. The same report said the railway was responding to more passengers after transit visa-free and mutual visa exemption policies took effect.
Key facts
- Cumulative passenger trips on the China-Laos Railway passed 80 million as of October 9, counted from the opening of the full line. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Monthly passenger trips on the whole line rose from 600,000 when it opened to a peak of 2.25 million. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Daily passenger trains rose from 8 to a peak of 86 on the domestic section, and from 4 to a peak of 18 on the Laos section. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The line has run 3,913 international passenger trains, which carried 950,000 cross-border passengers from more than 120 countries and regions. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Cross-border passengers this year numbered 270,000, up 36.6% from a year earlier. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Since April 2023, daily trains between Kunming and Vientiane have risen from 2 to 4, and the fastest journey takes 9 hours 36 minutes. [ 2 ]
- Foreign bank cards are accepted for payment at 13 passenger stations on the China section. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cumulative passenger trips on the China-Laos Railway passed 80 million as of October 9. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Monthly passenger trips rose from 600,000 at opening to a peak of 2.25 million. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Daily passenger trains on the domestic section rose from 8 to a peak of 86, and on the Laos section from 4 to a peak of 18. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The line has run 3,913 international passenger trains, which carried 950,000 cross-border passengers from more than 120 countries and regions. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Cross-border passengers this year numbered 270,000, up 36.6% from a year earlier. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Stations along the line have dedicated ticket windows for international passengers, 13 passenger stations on the China section accept foreign bank cards, and Mohan (磨憨) station offers renminbi cash withdrawals. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The single-day peak in passenger trips on the domestic section. The CCTV News report carried by Jiemian puts it at more than 1.9 million, while China News Service puts it at more than 65,000.
- Passenger trips this year exceeded 16 million, up 5.0% from a year earlier. Only the CCTV News report carried by Jiemian gives this figure.
- Spending at scenic spots, hotels and restaurants along the line grew by more than 35%, driven by cross-border passengers. Only the CCTV News report carried by Jiemian makes this claim, and it does not say how the figure was measured.