The Chinese ambassador to Laos and Lao minister of Public Works and Transport unveil the first "Lancang" train in Vientiane, Laos, October 16, 2021. /CNRG
The first passenger train set to travel along the newly completed China-Laos railway was delivered to its operator in the Lao capital on Saturday.
The Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains, designed and built by Chinese companies, can run at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour. They will be operated by the Laos-China Railway Company, a joint venture for the railway's construction and management in Vientiane.
The trains are called "Lancang" as a tribute to the ancient name of Laos and the Lancang-Mekong River which flows through the two countries. The train's exterior is painted in red, blue and white to represent the colors of the national flag of Laos, while the interior is adorned with patterns of Dok Champa, a national symbol of Laos.
With a handling capacity of 720 people, the train's carriages are equipped with snack and beverage bars, facilities for people with disability and information services in Chinese, Lao and English.
A ceremony is held to welcome the arrival of the first "Lancang" train in Vientiane, Laos, October 16, 2021. /CNRG
Supervised by the China National Railway Group (CNRG), the train departed from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong and Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport Bouchanh Sinthavong welcomed the train's arrival at Vientiane Station on Saturday.
Test runs for the train will begin shortly ahead of the official opening of the 1,000-km railway line on December 2, the National Day of Laos.