First train to Laos on March 5th: time for a Lao Do?
The first train ever from Bangkok to Vientiane will putt-putt off from Hualampong Station on Thursday, March 5th at 8 PM, arrive at Nong Khai 8 AM the next morning, and cross the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong to arrive in Tha Naleng, People's Democratic Republic of Laos, around 10 AM the next morning. I'll try to be there and am currently rounding up a posse to join me, any FTers want to join in and make it a do? 1st class sleeper is around 1200 baht, 2nd class A/C sleeper is ~800 and both are by all accounts quite acceptable, although this isn't the Oriental Express.
Four complications:
I'm not entirely sure what "opening on March 5th" translates to: is the train departing on the 4th the first to cross on the morning of the 5th, or departing on the 5th to cross on the 6th?
In either case, taking the train on the 6th, Friday night, would be easier for many schedule-wise (no need to take a day off work).
Tickets can apparently only be booked in Thailand, since SRT's recently-launched online booking service doesn't support the Nong Khai route yet.
It's unclear whether it's possible to obtain visas on arrival in Laos if you go by train. I presume so, since the schedule allocates two hours to crossing the ~13 km from Nong Khai to Tha Naleng, but Lao on-arrival visas take their own sweet time and apparently some falangs on the cross-border buses have been unceremoniously left behind.
Personally, knowing what I do about the way the Thai keep to a schedule (NOT), I'd wait until the service is actually up and running before planning a lengthy trip to take advantage of it.
Personally, knowing what I do about the way the Thai keep to a schedule (NOT), I'd wait until the service is actually up and running before planning a lengthy trip to take advantage of it.
The physical link construction was completed over a year ago, public trial runs were done in July 2008, and yet more test trains are running and will apparently run every weekend from Nong Khai to Vientiane until March. March 5th is thus just the official inauguration ceremony (and first day for long-distance through service), and since SRT is already selling tickets and HRH Princess Sirindhorn has been invited, it's exceedingly unlikely for this one to be cancelled.
Anyone know the coordinates for Tha Naleng? It would be great if someone on this trip took a GPS and marked the terminus as a waypoint and plopped it someplace like Wikiloc.
I've managed to find answers to most of my own questions above:
1. The inaugural train indeed departs Bangkok on March 5th, but this appears to be a VIP operation with heavy security due to the presence of HRH Princess Sirindhorn, so mere mortals can't get tickets -- and even if they could, the use of cameras, cellphones etc is apparently banned.
2. So yes, Friday March 6th it is.
3. It appears that Bangkok-Tha Naleng through tickets cannot be booked anywhere yet. However, it should not be a problem to book sleepers as far as Nong Khai and then pay the 50 baht extra on the train...?
4. Yes, visa on arrival is definitely available at the Lao train station.
if the 2nd class sleeper is like the overenight to Hat Yai , they put the beds down pretty early, the Hat Yai trip started at 3pm frpm Hualampong Station .
If you have a choice get a lower sleeper , its a little wider and you do not need to clinb the ladder which may be a problem ,
Figure the beds will be put down before 10pm , its was about 8 pm on the Hat Yai trip.
Finally managed to confirm my tickets on Train 69 ( no, that's not a go-go bar ), leaving Bangkok at 8 PM on March 6th. Two people confirmed so far and there's apparently still a little space on the train, so it's still not too late to join in. 2nd class AC sleeper to Nong Khai is 758 baht.
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As I understand it, train tickets must be purchased in person at any train station in Thailand. Most tour agents will let you book through them and will pay a courier 50-100THB to run over and purchase the tickets. What the tour agency charges you is another matter, but shouldn't be too much.
However, for some bizarre reason only a quota of 10% is available for online booking, so most trains "sell out" (== show up as gray and unclickable) immediately, even though there's actually lots of space available. Also note that you can't book through to Laos online, and contrary to prior reports, you do need an advance visa to use the Thai-Lao shuttle trains for time being.
Most travel agents change around 200 baht/person commission for booking tickets. I've used Charlie Connecxion (sic!) and been reasonably happy, but almost any agency can do this for you.
Anyway, the saga of the second train to Laos is now up in Trip Reports:
First train to Laos on March 5th: time for a Lao Do?
However, it should not be a problem to book sleepers as far as Nong Khai and then pay the 50 baht extra on the train...? 
), leaving Bangkok at 8 PM on March 6th. Two people confirmed so far and there's apparently still a little space on the train, so it's still not too late to join in. 
2nd class AC sleeper to Nong Khai is 758 baht.
