Kunming-Vientiane through train
Luxury train in Laos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kunming-Vientiane through train, also known as Sino-Laos international passenger train. It operates between Kunming, Yunnan to Vientiane, Laos under the train no. D87/88. Operation commenced on 13 April 2023.[1]
Vientiane
| |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | International train |
| Status | Operating |
| Current operator | Laos-China Railway (subsidiary of CR Kunming) |
| Route | |
| Termini | Kunming Vientiane |
| Stops | Puer Mohan Boten Luang Prabang |
| Service frequency | Daily |
| Train numbers | D87/88, D86/83 and D84/85 |
| On-board services | |
| Classes | First class Second class |
| Seating arrangements | 2-2 First class 2-3 Second class |
| Catering facilities | Yes |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | CR200J EMU "Fuxing" |
The train service has made landmarks in Chinese railway history. It is the nation's first EMU international train, first CR international train with all stations and the route owned by CR, first fully electrified international train, first international train running up to 160 km/h and the first international train that supports purchases from 12306.
Operational history
Boten–Vientiane railway commenced operations on 3 December 2021,[2] however due to COVID-19, only freight services run the full line and the passenger service runs domestic service. On 10 April 2023, CR announced that from 13 April 2023 passenger train service between Kunming South and Vientiane will commence operations, it operates under the train no. D887/888.[1]
The first southbound train departed from Kunming South at 8:08am 13 April 2023, and the northbound train from Vientiane departed an hour later. The first-day train tickets are sold out on that day.[3][4]
From 26 July 2023, the train is rescheduled to shorten the immigration processing duration, thus the travel time reduced 64 mins from 10.5 hrs to 9 hrs 26 mins.[5][6]
On 10 January 2024, D887/888 was rescheduled as D87/88.
From 18 July 2025, the former Puer-Luang Prabang through train extend termini to Kunming and Vientiane, which the original train number D85/86 renumbered as D86/83 and D84/85.
Rolling stock and services
Operation mode
The train coaches are divided into Chinese and Laotian section coaches, which groups passengers who will pass through the immigration. Passengers who travel between two countries must purchase the ticket with their passport,[note 1] tickets can be purchased from CR 12306, LCR web and designated stations' ticket counters. Online tickets must be printed at the station.[1][3]The price for full journey is RMB 542 for second class and RMB 864.[3]
All passengers must alight at the border stations to clear immigration inspection, the duration will be last for an hour.[11][12]
On 10 September 2025, China and Laos agreed to set up a joint checkpoint at Mohan and Boten stations for juxtaposed passport control to reduce travel time.[13]
Schedule
- Kunming South to Vientiane as of 10 April 2024 (China is 1 hour ahead of Laos)：
| D87 | Stop | D88 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | Arrival | Departure | Departure | Arrival | Distance | |
| 0 | — | 08:08 | Kunming South | 18:34 | — | 996 |
| 88 | 08:45 | 08:49 | Yuxi | 17:52 | 17:56 | 908 |
| 346 | 10:38 | 10:42 | Puer | 15:56 | 16:00 | 650 |
| 440 | 11:24 | 11:30 | Xishuangbanna | 15:10 | 15:16 | 556 |
| 577 | 12:31 | 13:23 | Mohan | 13:19 | 14:11 | 419 |
↑  China（CST UTC+08:00） ↑ | ||||||
↓  Laos（Laos Time UTC+07:00） ↓ | ||||||
| 590 | 12:35 | 13:27 | Boten | 11:17 | 12:07 | 406 |
| 657 | 13:57 | 14:00 | Muang Xay | 10:43 | 10:46 | 339 |
| 758 | 14:54 | 14:58 | Luang Prabang | 09:45 | 09:49 | 238 |
| 883 | 15:49 | 15:52 | Van Vieng | 08:52 | 08:55 | 123 |
| 996 | 16:44 | — | Vientiane | — | 08:00 | 0 |
- Kunming to Vientiane as of 18 July 2025 (China is 1 hour ahead of Laos)：
| Distance | D86/3 | Stop | D84/5 | Distance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |||
| 0 | — | 10:55 | Kunming | 22:08 | — | 1023 |
| 28 | 11:14 | 11:20 | Kunming South | 21:44 | 21:48 | 995 |
| 374 | 13:42 | 13:46 | Puer | 19:15 | 19:19 | 649 |
| 468 | 14:30 | 14:36 | Xishuangbanna | 18:28 | 18:34 | 555 |
| 605 | 15:50 | 16:42 | Mohan | 16:37 | 17:29 | 418 |
| ↑ China（CST UTC+08:00） ↑ | ||||||
| ↓ Laos（Laos Time UTC+07:00） ↓ | ||||||
| 617 | 15:54 | 16:44 | Boten | 14:31 | 15:25 | 406 |
| 684 | 17:15 | 17:18 | Muang Xay | ↑ | ↑ | — |
| 784 | 18:07 | 18:11 | Luang Prabang | 13:11 | 13:15 | 239 |
| 900 | 19:02 | 19:06 | Van Vieng | 12:17 | 12:20 | 123 |
| 1023 | 19:59 | — | Vientiane | — | 11:25 | 0 |
Notes
See also
- Xishuangbanna-Luang Prabang EMU train
- Boten-Vientiane intercity train
- Luang Prabang-Vientiane intercity EMU train
- Van Vieng-Vientiane intercity train
- Boten-Vientiane express train