BANGKOK, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Rail service between Thailand and neighboring Laos will start late this April, according to the Thai Ministry of Transport on Saturday.
 

    Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon, Thailand's permanent secretary for Transport, was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that the rail lines of the two countries were connected on the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in the Thai border province of Nong Khai on Feb.20.

    The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to begin its rail services to Laos around late April, said Chaisawat.

    Construction of the rail line from the middle of the bridge to Ban Tanalaeng in Laos has taken 18 months and is due to be completed next month as the SRT has also installed a traffic control system and telecommunication facilities.

    Initially, two passenger train services from Bangkok-Nong Khai-Ban Thanaleng will be operated while a special ticket between NongKhai and Ban Thanaleng will be issued for tourists.