Culture community unveils over 20 advanced rail systems at Vientiane station

The culture community, a collaborative initiative from the CRRC Corporation Limited and the Laos-China Railway Company Limited, officially opened its doors at Vientiane railway station on the China-Laos Railway on June 20. Displaying over 20 advanced rail trains from CRRC for a month, this debut for Laos provides an exciting exploration of train technology for tourists.

The grand opening of the culture community on the China-Laos Railway was hosted by Vilaykham Phosalath, vice minister of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Lao PDR; alongside Liu Hong, general manager of Laos-China Railway Company Limited; Wang An, executive director of CRRC; Daochinda Sihalath, general manager of Laos National Railway Co., Ltd.; and Tian Xuehua, chairman of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. This spectacle was attended by railway enthusiasts from Laos and Thailand, as well as on-site passengers.

Vientiane railway station’s waiting hall now hosts an expansive model wall, extending 12 meters in length and rising over 3 meters high. Over 20 advanced rail trains were introduced at the Culture Community's opening, featuring a broad range from high-speed rail EMUs, high-speed magnetic levitation trains, to urban rail transit vehicles, with speeds ranging between 60km/h to a breathtaking 600km/h. This is the first time CRRC's extensive array of rail transit equipment has been showcased in Laos.

Vilaykham Phosalath, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos, celebrated the opening of the China-Laos Railway, heralding a new epoch of motor coaches for Laos. She expressed optimism about China-Laos Railway's future and encouraged more Chinese enterprises to contribute their technical and management expertise to Laos' railway development.

The exhibition site, named "Train Culture Station," displaying a variety of rail trains, has drawn in a large crowd of passengers and vehicle enthusiasts. They have been taking photos in front of the train models and experiencing the allure of train technology firsthand.

A senior student at the National University of Laos, Rashi Tamaonsa, expressed his amazement at seeing so many advanced rail trains for the first time. A railway enthusiast from Thailand, Qiu Wenbin, shared that his multiple journeys on the Lancang in Laos left a deep impression on him and hoped his country would soon have a modern railway too.

Lancang EMUs, a product of CRRC with inputs from China-Laos Railway, has been designed and manufactured with the local natural environment, line conditions and culture in mind. It boasts an impressive running speed of 160km/h. The train has become popular among the Laos people for its safety, speed, cleanliness and comfort, becoming their preferred choice for travel.

Wang An, executive director of CRRC, stated that the Lancang EMUs symbolize the amicable cooperation between China and Laos. He expressed hope that the culture community would effectively showcase the achievements of China-Laos cooperation, attracting more people to understand rail transit products and railway culture, while also fostering a deeper connection between the two countries.

As the world’s leading rail transit equipment supplier, CRRC offers a vast range of products and cutting-edge technology. Their establishment of the culture community at the Vientiane railway station represents a global first, serving as a public window into the technology and culture of rail transit, and facilitating significant cultural exchanges between China and Laos within the railway sector.