Authorities in Oudomxay Province, northern Laos, have announced plans to expand railway services and free up land for investment around the region’s three Laos-China Railway stations.
The provincial government said on 3 August that it would set aside more than 300 hectares around Xay, Namor and Nga stations for commercial, logistics and urban development projects, as it seeks to position Oudomxay as a transport and logistics hub in the north of the country.
The announcement, reported by Oudomxay Radio and Television Station, comes as demand for both passenger and freight services on the line continues to rise.
Growing gateway
The three stations have grown in importance since the Laos-China Railway began operating in December 2021. Xay Station in particular has become what provincial governor Bounkhong Lachiemphone described as a major gateway linking five northern provinces, drawing investment in logistics facilities and cargo warehouses.
To keep pace with demand, the province plans to use the newly designated land for further commercial and industrial development around the three stations.
Bounkhong also called on railway operators to increase train frequencies or add ticket capacity at Xay Station, saying many passengers were still struggling to secure seats. He urged operators to simplify freight booking procedures, improve road access to cargo terminals, and work more closely with government agencies and businesses to support growth along the corridor.
Part of a wider push
Oudomxay’s expansion plans form part of a broader effort by Laos and its neighbours to build out regional rail connectivity.
In Thailand, bidding is due to open in December for the second phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway, which will extend the line from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, close to the Lao border. Once complete, the route is expected to link with the Laos-China Railway as part of a wider Pan-Asian network connecting China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Laos has also joined an international rail corridor linking South East Asia with Europe’s Baltic coast, after signing an OSJD agreement in Tajikistan. Officials say the move should strengthen freight links, encourage logistics investment, and reinforce the country’s role as a regional transit point.
Rapid growth since 2021
Since it opened in December 2021, the Laos-China Railway has become a significant trade and transport corridor. Official figures show it has carried more than 80 million tonnes of cargo, including over 18 million tonnes of cross-border freight, while trade along the route has reached roughly USD 11.7 billion.
Annual freight volumes have nearly doubled, from 12.47 million tonnes in 2022 to 24.48 million tonnes in 2025, while, The railway has transported more than 10 million tons of freight so far in 2026. The railway has also carried more than 73 million passengers since launching, underlining its expanding role in connecting people and markets across the region.
