The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) hosted a welcome ceremony for Laotian passengers arriving on the full trial train from Vientiane to Bangkok. Passengers onboard SRT’s Rapid No. 134 received traditional Thai floral garlands upon their arrival at Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station.

This event marks the readiness of the new train service connecting Thailand and Laos, extending from Bangkok to Vientiane's Khamsavath Station. This project, supported by the Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), follows Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s visit to Laos, where he and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone inaugurated the Vientiane station.

The Bangkok-Vientiane train service aims to boost cross-border tourism and economic activities, aligning with TAT’s vision to establish Thailand as the Hub of ASEAN. The train, Rapid No. 133/134, features a mix of air-conditioned and ordinary carriages. It officially begins operations on July 19, with reservations available via the D-Ticket mobile application, website, and SRT stations. TAT targets 36.96 billion Baht in tourism revenue from 977,000 Laotian tourists in 2024, bolstered by this new train service and other favorable factors.