Construction of a railway line that will connect Thailand, China and Laos is underway, after engineering work began earlier this week.
Reuters has reported that a ceremony took place in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand on December 21st to commemorate the launch of the line, which is expected to be 873 km long when completed.
Speaking at the event, prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said: “Thailand is developing in every aspect to become the centre of connectivity… and this route is to connect to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to China, India and further to other countries.”
The first section of the railway will stretch 3.5 km and is expected to take six months to complete.
By 2021, a 250-km high-speed rail line will be operational, connecting Bangkok with Nakhon Ratchasima.
However, it is not known when the full line – linking Thailand in the northern city of Nong Khai to Laos – will be complete.
The initiative is part of the Belt and Road project, intending to connect China to other areas of the world. It hopes to link China to southeast and central Asia by land, and the Middle East and Europe by sea.
New and exciting railway projects are happening all over the world, and just this month the steepest funicular railway opened in Switzerland.
The Stoos Bahn cost £40 million and took 14 years to build. However, it has received great commendation, as it travels at ten miles a second and at gradients of up to 110 per cent, the Independent reported.
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