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China - Thailand Railway
China - Thailand Railway, or Sino - Thai Railway hasn't been opened yet. The construction began in December, 2017. About 10 years are needed to complete this high speed rail project, by when it will run through three countries including China, Laos and Thailand. It will serve trains running between Kunming and Bangkok. In the far future, this China - Thailand railway project will be extended all the way to Singapore, shaping a high speed railway as long as 1,864 miles (3,000 km), namely Kunming - Singapore Railway.
Based on the latest developments of China - Thailand Railway, the construction was delayed. The high-speed rail of Bangkok – Nong Khai is expected to be officially put into use in 2031.
Scheduled Open Time: 2031
Designed Speed: 99–124 mph (160-200 km/h)
Running Length: about 790 miles (1,272 km)
Expected Duration: about 12 hours
Estimated Round-trip Ticket Price: CNY 700 or THB 3,600, equaling to half or 1/3 of the flight ticket fare
Planned Stations along the Way: Kunming South, Kunyang, Jinning East, Huacheng, Baofeng, Yuxi, Yuxi South, Yuanjiang, Mojiang, Puer, Jinghong, Mohan, Vientiane, Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Bangkok
Kunming-Mohan: This section consists of the Kunming-Yuxi Railroad and Yuxi-Mohan Railroad. Currently, the former section has been put into service since December 15th, 2016 and the journey time is 1/1.5 hours. The construction of the latter section began on 29th April, 2016 and finished in December 2021. The distance is 315 miles (507 km); the running speed is 99 mph (160 km/h) and the intermediate stations include Yuanjiang, Mojiang, Puer, and Jinghong.
The railway of Yuxi to Mohan is also called as Yumo Railway, which starts from Yuxi, Yunnan Province, passes through Pu’er, Jinghong and ends at Mohan Port. It is a passenger and cargo collinear railway with totally 13 intermediate stations. After the completion of the Yumo Railway, the travel time from Kunming to Pu’er and from Kunming to Xishuangbanna is shortened to 3 hours. Besides, after the completion of China – Laos International Railway, passengers are able to arrive at Vientiane from Kunming "overnight".
Mohan (Boten)- Vientiane: This section started on 2nd December, 2015 and is put into service in December 2021. The running speed is 99 mph (160 km/h) and the total journey is 260 miles (418 km).
The completion of the China – Laos Railway project, on the one hand, greatly boosts the economic development of Laos, improving the efficiency and the level of local transportation, as well as creating a large number of employment opportunities for Laos. On the other hand, it injects new impetus into the economic development of southwest China.
Vientiane (Nong Khai) - Bangkok: The designed speed is 99–112 mph (160-180 km/h) for this section. The construction started in Dec. 21, 2017 and will last for 10 years. It will completely change the rail provision of Thailand and the country will have the first standard-gauge rail track. The stations along this way include Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima. In the future, this railroad will be extended to eastern Rayong Province in Thailand.
The high-speed railway project in Thailand will be built in two phases. Phase one is from Bangkok to Kele with a total length of about 253 km. Phase two is from Kele to Nong Khai with total length of about 357 km. The China – Laos Railway will be completed and put into use in 2031. The Bangkok – Kele section of the China – Thailand Railway will be in service in 2028, while Kele - Nong Khai section will be in use in 2031.
Thailand - China High Speed Railway Project will make traveling between the two countries cheaper, easier and more convenient. Thailand is one of the top outbound tourism destinations among Chinese. When the China - Thailand high speed trains are put into service, they are estimated to attract 2 million more Chinese to visit the mysterious and colorful country each year, greatly boost the develop of its tourism industry.
For China, the railroad will greatly deduct the cost for exporting agricultural products such as rice, vegetables, and fresh tropical fruit from Thailand, as the rail freight fee is only about 1/3 of air freight fee. This in return, will also boost the development of Thai's agriculture industry.
Once the China - Thailand High Speed Railway is completed, the rail line will connect six countries in Southeast Asia, all the way to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. It will be of great significance to promote economic co-prosperity between China and Southeast Asia, and even between the whole Europe and Asia.
At present, the most convenient way to travel between the two countries should be flights. The direct flights between Bangkok and Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kunming are the most popular; and the air duration is 5.5 hours, 4.5 hours, 3 hours, and 2.5 hours respectively.
Direct flights to Thailand from major cities in China: Kunming has the most flights, following by Chengdu, Chongqing, Guilin, Nanning, Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Wuhan, Qingdao, Hong Kong and Macau.
Note:
Other International Trains between China and nearby Countries
International railways under construction/planning from China to:
Based on the latest developments of China - Thailand Railway, the construction was delayed. The high-speed rail of Bangkok – Nong Khai is expected to be officially put into use in 2031.
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| Map of China - Thailand Railway |
Kunming - Bangkok Trains
Scheduled Open Time: 2031 Designed Speed: 99–124 mph (160-200 km/h) Running Length: about 790 miles (1,272 km) Expected Duration: about 12 hours Estimated Round-trip Ticket Price: CNY 700 or THB 3,600, equaling to half or 1/3 of the flight ticket fare Planned Stations along the Way: Kunming South, Kunyang, Jinning East, Huacheng, Baofeng, Yuxi, Yuxi South, Yuanjiang, Mojiang, Puer, Jinghong, Mohan, Vientiane, Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, and BangkokSino - Thai Railway Sections
Kunming-Mohan: This section consists of the Kunming-Yuxi Railroad and Yuxi-Mohan Railroad. Currently, the former section has been put into service since December 15th, 2016 and the journey time is 1/1.5 hours. The construction of the latter section began on 29th April, 2016 and finished in December 2021. The distance is 315 miles (507 km); the running speed is 99 mph (160 km/h) and the intermediate stations include Yuanjiang, Mojiang, Puer, and Jinghong.The railway of Yuxi to Mohan is also called as Yumo Railway, which starts from Yuxi, Yunnan Province, passes through Pu’er, Jinghong and ends at Mohan Port. It is a passenger and cargo collinear railway with totally 13 intermediate stations. After the completion of the Yumo Railway, the travel time from Kunming to Pu’er and from Kunming to Xishuangbanna is shortened to 3 hours. Besides, after the completion of China – Laos International Railway, passengers are able to arrive at Vientiane from Kunming "overnight".
Mohan (Boten)- Vientiane: This section started on 2nd December, 2015 and is put into service in December 2021. The running speed is 99 mph (160 km/h) and the total journey is 260 miles (418 km).The completion of the China – Laos Railway project, on the one hand, greatly boosts the economic development of Laos, improving the efficiency and the level of local transportation, as well as creating a large number of employment opportunities for Laos. On the other hand, it injects new impetus into the economic development of southwest China.
Vientiane (Nong Khai) - Bangkok: The designed speed is 99–112 mph (160-180 km/h) for this section. The construction started in Dec. 21, 2017 and will last for 10 years. It will completely change the rail provision of Thailand and the country will have the first standard-gauge rail track. The stations along this way include Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima. In the future, this railroad will be extended to eastern Rayong Province in Thailand.The high-speed railway project in Thailand will be built in two phases. Phase one is from Bangkok to Kele with a total length of about 253 km. Phase two is from Kele to Nong Khai with total length of about 357 km. The China – Laos Railway will be completed and put into use in 2031. The Bangkok – Kele section of the China – Thailand Railway will be in service in 2028, while Kele - Nong Khai section will be in use in 2031.
Why build the China - Thailand Railway
For China, the railroad will greatly deduct the cost for exporting agricultural products such as rice, vegetables, and fresh tropical fruit from Thailand, as the rail freight fee is only about 1/3 of air freight fee. This in return, will also boost the development of Thai's agriculture industry.
Once the China - Thailand High Speed Railway is completed, the rail line will connect six countries in Southeast Asia, all the way to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. It will be of great significance to promote economic co-prosperity between China and Southeast Asia, and even between the whole Europe and Asia.
How to travel between China and Thailand presently
By air
Direct flights to Thailand from major cities in China: Kunming has the most flights, following by Chengdu, Chongqing, Guilin, Nanning, Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Wuhan, Qingdao, Hong Kong and Macau.
Flights from China to Thailand:
| Departure City | Flight | Ticket Price | Arrival Airport in Bangkok |
| Beijing | MU2071 (19:55-00:00+1) | CNY1,000-CNY2,500 | Suvarnabhumi International Airport |
| Kunming | FD583 (13:30-14:50) | CNY1,000-CNY2,000 | Langman International Airport |
| Shanghai | 9C8891 (07:15-10:45) | CNY1,000-CNY2,000 | Suvarnabhumi International Airport |
| Guangzhou | 9C7419 (05:55-08:05) | CNY600-CNY1,200 | Suvarnabhumi International Airport |
| Chengdu | FD563 (02:50-05:05) | CNY700-CNY1,600 | Langman International Airport |
Note:
(1). Flight schedules are only for reference, which are subject to the airlines’ arrangement.
(2). All times refer to local time.
By Bus
Bus is available from Kunming to Mohan Port in Xishuangbanna and then you can go from Huishai Port in Laos to Thailand. However, if passing by Laos, the Laos Visa is required by the Chinese immigration. Therefore, bus is sometimes not recommended if people would like to go to Thailand.
Other International Trains between China and nearby Countries| K23/K24: | K27/K28: | T8701/T8702: |
| 4652/4653: | Z5/Z6: | K7023/K7024: |
| K9795/K9796: Urumqi - Almaty | K19/K20 | K3/K4 |
| Erlian - Ulaanbaatar |
International railways under construction/planning from China to:
- Last updated on Nov. 15, 2024 by Grace Yang -