Thanaleng railway station

On 22 February 2006, after the conclusion of a trilateral agreement between Thailand, Laos, and France, the French Development Agency announced that it had approved funding for a second phase of the Thanaleng railway—an extension to Vientiane. The cost of this second phase was estimated at US$13.2 million, including the cost of feasibility studies, infrastructure, and equipment.[8] A US$50 million loan was also reportedly received from the Thai government for the extension.[3] Construction was originally slated to begin in December 2010, and Lao railway officials had confirmed as late as September 2010 that plans would go ahead. The extension, which would have taken an estimated three years to complete, would have stretched 9 km (5.6 mi) from Thanaleng to a new main Khamsavath station in Khamsavath village in Vientiane's Xaysetha District,[9] 4 km (2.5 mi) away from That Luang Temple.[3] Khamsavath station was completed in May 2023 and its scheduled to open in the middle of the year.[10]

After reviewing the project, Lao officials decided that Thanaleng station would be converted into a terminal for freight trains crossing over the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge; freight could then be transported from Bangkok into Laos at a lower cost than would be possible with road transport.[2] The Vientiane–Boten railway and the connecting Yuxi–Mohan railway to Kunming opened in December 2021.

Thailand decided to finance its part of the route itself, although only the high-speed route Bangkok – Nakhon Ratchasima is to be built for the time being. After several postponements, the Bangkok (Bang Sue Grand Station) to Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail project (Phase 1) was officially launched by the Thai government in October 2020. However, the Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai section (Phase 2) and the Nong Khai to Vientiane section (Phase 3) has not yet been confirmed.[11]

A train stops at Thanaleng station

Thanaleng station is in a somewhat isolated area southeast of Vientiane, in Dongphosy village. Travellers arriving at the station must arrange their own travel onward into Vientiane, or use tuk-tuks or buses that may be stationed there to await travellers.[1] A transfer counter now operates at the station, where passengers requiring transfer into Vientiane pay a flat rate for transportation into the city, by tuk-tuk or minivan.[12]

Lao tourist visas are available on arrival at Thanaleng. Entry and exit fees are collected at the station upon embarking or disembarking.[12]

As of September 2010, an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 passengers were using the Nong Khai–Thanaleng Shuttle train daily. Trains consist of two coaches, each carrying up to 80 passengers.[3] Tickets onward to Bangkok may be purchased at the station; passengers travelling through must alight the train at Nong Khai to pass through Thai customs and immigration.[12]

On 4 December 2021, a day after opening the China–Laos railway, the Vientiane Logistics Park, one of a total of nine logistics centers in Laos, was officially opened by Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh at Thanaleng.[13]

In July 2022, the transhipment yard between the Laos-Thai meter gauge railway and Laos-China standard gauge railway was officially inaugurated at Thanaleng / Vientiane South.