China-Laos railway bores first tunnel

• 15 January 2018
• Construction Focus
• 1662 Views

The first tunnel on the 414km China-Laos rail link was bored in December, marking the first success of the USD5.8 billion project.

The 301m Ban Somsanook No. 2 Tunnel presented a number of dangerous challenges given the mountainous terrain and geology but contractor, Sino Corporation Engineering Bureau 15 Co., successfully completed the first of many such projects on the route.

Laos is an exceptionally mountainous country so more than 62 percent of the cross-country rail project,

first started in 2016, will be crossing bridges or tunnels.

As part of the One Belt One Road initiative, the rail link will eventually extend all the way to Singapore.