Sino-Lao railway project drives full steam ahead

Construction of the China-Laos railway is gathering steam, as a main bridge over the Mekong River has been completed, said executives of construction giant China Railway Engineering Corp.

The rail project, which will connect Southwest China with Laos by 2021, is part of the two countries’ efforts to promote interconnectivity.

The rail line starts from the Mohan-Boten border area between the two countries, running over 414.33 kilometers, more than 62.7 percent of which will run over bridges and through tunnels. The construction of the bridges and tunnels is considered one of the decisive factors in whether the rail project will be built on schedule.

Language barriers, bad traffic conditions in the deep mountains and woods, and difficult living conditions were also obstacles that Zhou Xiaoxia, project manager of China Railway No 5 Engineering Group, faced when he started his work.

Facing these difficulties, Zhou and his team went deep into the woods to measure the route and prepare for the construction. “The China-Laos railway is one of the important routes that connects the two countries together,” Zhou said. “It’s a huge honor to be part of this project.”

The rail line is designed for a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, using Chinese standards and equipment.

The project is not just a rail line, but represents the Lao people’s faith in China, Zhou said. “The quality of the railway represents the image of China. We need to apply the same high standards as we use for the bullet train to the China-Laos railway,” he said.

By the end of May, 40 percent of the phase one project had been completed with a zero defect rate. Zhou said he is confident he will finish his mission by the end of 2021.

“The company is leveraging its advantages in railway management, technology and resources to conduct research, as well as to offer construction and equipment manufacturing for the project,” he said.                       

Sino-Lao railway project drives full steam ahead

Construction of the China-Laos railway is gathering steam, as a main bridge over the Mekong River has been completed, said executives of construction giant China Railway Engineering Corp. The rail project, which will connect Southwest China with Laos by 2021, is part of the two countries efforts to promote interconnectivity. The rail line starts from the Mohan-Boten border area between the two countries, running over 414.33 kilometers, more than 62.7 percent of which will run over bridges and through tunnels. The construction of the bridges and tunnels is considered one of the decisive factors in whether the rail project will be built on schedule. Language barriers, bad traffic conditions in the deep mountains and woods, and difficult living conditions were also obstacles that Zhou Xiaoxia, project manager of China Railway No 5 Engineering Group, faced when he started his work. Facing these difficulties, Zhou and his team went deep into the woods to measure the route and prepare for the construction. The China-Laos railway is one of the important routes that connects the two countries together, Zhou said. Its a huge honor to be part of this project. The rail line is designed for a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, using Chinese standards and equipment. The project is not just a rail line, but represents the Lao peoples faith in China, Zhou said. The quality of the railway represents the image of China. We need to apply the same high standards as we use for the bullet train to the China-Laos railway, he said. By the end of May, 40 percent of the phase one project had been completed with a zero defect rate. Zhou said he is confident he will finish his mission by the end of 2021. The company is leveraging its advantages in railway management, technology and resources to conduct research, as well as to offer construction and equipment manufacturing for the project, he said.