A new international train service connecting Bangkok and Vientiane in Laos will begin services on July 19, the State Railway of Thailand announced on Wednesday.

The SRT is extending the Bangkok-Nong Khai route for this new service. The train will depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station (Bangkok Central) at 9.25pm on July 19 and arrive in Vientiane at 9.05am on July 20.

An official said that on arrival at their destination, travellers can use public transport services to travel to downtown Vientiane, 7-9 kilometres away.

They can also board the high-speed Laos-China railway at Vientiane Railway Station to travel to other provinces in Laos or to China.

It is expected that one-way ticket fares from Bangkok to Vientiane will start around 300 baht for a third-class fan seat, the official said. Travel time will be about 10 hours.