6
| NEWS
More news at www.railprofessional.com/news
High-speed railway in Laos set to open Laos’ railway – a 414 kilometre long, US$5.9 billion high-speed line financed by China – is expected to commence services on 2 December, Laos National Day. At the southern end of the railway in Vientiane, the China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group (CREC-5) has completed the construction of the main structure of the longest bridge,
the Phonethong bridge with a length of 7,528 metres. When completed the railway will run from Boten on Laos' northern border with China, south to Vientiane, on its border with Thailand, then connect with the future Bangkok-Nong Khai route.
Cambodia update The airport shuttle and all passenger trains across the country had ceased operations but are expected to restart in the final quarter of this year, subject to the pandemic subsiding as hoped. Upgrades to the Northern Line are expected to start next year and work on rehabilitating the track that crosses the border to Thailand, which had
been due to restart earlier this year, is also expected to recommence later this year. More broadly, The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is drafting a railway development strategy to look at how train transport in the country can be made more efficient.
South Korea to invest $102.7 billion by 2030 to expand railway network South Korea will invest 114.7 trillion won (US$102.7 billion) over the next ten years to expand the railway network for major cities across the nation, the country’s Transport Ministry has announced. South Korea currently has 4,274 kilometres of track nationwide and this new plan is intended to extend that by 5,137 kilometres by 2030, reducing travel time across the country to less than three hours, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation said.
The project would raise the railway transportation capacity to about 17 per cent in 2030 from 11.5 per cent in 2019. The plan aims to have a vast railway network in major cities to ease traffic congestion, especially in the Seoul metropolitan area, and help residents in satellite cities to commute more conveniently to city centres.
Newest commuter line in Bangkok completes first month of operations The airport shuttle and all passenger trains across the country had ceased operations but are expected to restart in the final quarter of this year, subject to the pandemic subsiding as hoped. Upgrades to the Northern Line are expected to start next year and work on rehabilitating the track that crosses the border to Thailand, which had
been due to restart earlier this year, is also expected to recommence later this year. More broadly, The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is drafting a railway development strategy to look at how train transport in the country can be made more efficient.
Hangzhou Metro Lines 8 and 9 commence operation Hangzhou Metro Line 8 and Hangzhou Metro Line 9 have both officially opened for operation. Line 8 spans 2,800 meters, setting a record for the longest route that crosses a river. With a A-type drum car, the vehicles on the line can carry up to 2,460 passengers – a 21 per
Rail Professional
cent increase from the previous B-type car. Manufactured by CRRC Puzhen, the trains for Line 9 comprise six cars and adopt a B-type drum body structure, with a maximum operating speed of 80 kph.
