The success of the Laos-China railway is being held back by cumbersome ticketing formalities according to travel agents and travellers.
The railway, connects major cities and towns, including Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Boten, but does not have a website, and the only way to purchase tickets is through the app. However, travellers need a Laotian number to create an account.
Ticket sales are only open three days in advance and run out quickly for popular routes like Luang Prabang to Vientiane and vice versa, especially at weekends, according to Andrea Vinsonneau, Exo Travel general manager Luang Prabang.
She said that since the company began promoting the train, Exo has seen the number of nights in Laos increase by 45%, “meaning our entire supply chain is also benefiting from this”.
“From EXO's perspective, the train has considerably transformed the way our clients travel within the destination. I usually refer to it as the "spine" of northern Laos, providing us with more reasonable, sustainable and quicker ways to move around.”
But “inconveniences” remain in the booking process, Vinsonneau said.
“It is very tedious and not professional friendly. As we can only secure a ticket three days prior to travel, we are unable to guarantee 100% that clients will take the request train.
“Thankfully, up until now, we have only had to switch departure times, while keeping clients on track and travelling within the same day as their itinerary.”
The train which travels from Kunming in South-west China's Yunnan province to the Lao capital Vientiane with three classes, Second, First and Business. Seats are randomly allocated by LCR and are not bookable in advance.
Online payment via UnionPay, WeChat, Alipay, Visa and BCEL One are accepted. Once payment is confirmed, travellers receive a QR code, to board the train. Ticket offices do not accept cash or credit card.