The East-West Economic Corridor is an economic development program spanning across mainland Southeast Asia, covering Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, with Cambodia also included.
The corridor was envisaged as a land bridge connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans, saving the sea route via the Malacca Strait. The road route connects the port cities of Mawlamyine in the west, to Da Nang in the east.
[Image via ADB.]
The EWEC also calls for the development of a railway that would connect the two ports. The railway would then serve cargo and passenger trains.
Work on the EWEC has focused on improving highways, building new bridges, and streamlining cross-border transport agreements. Unfortunately, not a single kilometre of new railway has been added.
[East West Economic Corridor, image via asia.nikkei.com.]
If the railways are built it will transform cargo and passenger transport in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Here is the status of the railways of the four countries that the railway passes through.
East–West Economic Corridor Map
Map of East–West Economic Corridor.
Myanmar
Mawlamyine is the first (or last) station of the East-West Economic Corridor. The route from Mawlamyine to Myawaddy on the Thai border is about 120 km.
Moulmein (as Mawlamyine was then known) was the first capital of British Burma between 1826 and 1852. It was an important river port in colonial times, with timber being the major export. There were sea connections to Penang, Singapore, Calcutta, Bombay, and London.
The current port at Mawlamyine is not suitable for large container ships, so there is a proposed new deep-sea port at Kalagauk Island, about 130 km south of Mawlamyine.
For businesses in Thailand shipping cargo to the west, they could send containers here instead of Bangkok, saving the journey around the Malay Peninsula. Mawlamyine as a port has competition from the proposed Dawei port and Special Economic Zone, which is closer to Bangkok.
There are currently no railways connecting Myanmar to Thailand, which is one of the many missing links of Southeast Asia railways.
With the new railway connecting to the existing railway at Mawlamyine, passengers could then travel from Bangkok to Yangon by train
Thailand
The Thailand section forms the bulk of the line, traversing an 800km-long route from Maesot to Mukdahan. Even if Myanmar and Laos don’t build their section for years, this line would still be of great benefit to Thailand if they went ahead with it.
There is no east-west rail in North, Central, and Eastern (Isan) Thailand. A railway across Thailand would go a long way towards decentralising Bangkok-centric Thailand.
The railway would cross paths with the northern line at Nakhon Sawan, and the Northeastern Line at Ban Phai in Khon Kaen Province.
The original plan was for a straight line that would have passed through Khon Kaen and Phitsanulok. This route would have passed through national parks, so the line diverted to the south.
The Thailand section is broken up into three sections:
Mae Sot to Nakhon Sawan (256 km)
Nakhon Sawan to Ban Phai (291km)
Ban Phai to Nakhon Phanom (355km)
Laos
In Laos, the 220 km railway would run from Savannakhet on the Mekong River to Lao Bao on the Vietnam border. In November 2012 Giant Consolidated from Malaysia was awarded the contract to construct and operate the Savannakhet-Lao Bao Railway.
There was a ground-breaking ceremony for this project on 18 December, 2013, though work hasn’t begun. The right-of-way railway corridor has been marked out, and the project waits to start construction. Since then there hasn’t been any update on the status of this project.
There are 11 planned stations on the line:
– Savannakhet
– Nasay
– Seno
– Atsaphangthong
– Phalanxay
– Dongbang (Mai Posi)
– Xethamouak
– Vangkoung (Kammakon)
– Sepon
– Ban Dong (Dong)
– Densavan (Kahan)
A promotional video shows the railway including 11 stations along the way.
Youtube: Laos railway Project animation
The video shows a modern Savannakhet skyline and high-speed trains travelling on a double-track railway.
[Laos Railways by Giant Rail Company Limited.]
There is another plan that would extend a railway from Vientiane to Pakse in the south of Laos. That would then make Savannakhet a junction station. So maybe it will get a skyline like the one portrayed in the video.
[Future Savannakhet Station?]
The video also shows a “Laos Railways” company. If there were 11 stations then there would be a domestic railway service stopping all stations, and international high-speed trains from Thailand or Vietnam passing through.
Vietnam
The Vietnam section from the Lao Bao border to Dong Ha in Quang Tri province is about 80km, making it the shortest section of the four countries. This route is mountainous though, so it would be a challenging build. Vietnam also hasn’t built a new railway for over 40 years, so this may not be a high priority compared to other work that needs to be done.
When the EWEC was first announced it included Da Nang as it was the closest sea port to the corridor. Since then Quang Tri province has established an economic zone near Dong Ha, which will include a port to serve the EWEC.
In addition to building a new railway, the North-South line still needs to be modernised. The plan has been to turn the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route into a high-speed railway. The current line is a 1-metre gauge single track railway, so it would not be able to take trains from a standard-gauge east-west railway.
[The antiquated single-tracked 1-metre gauge national railway passing through Da Nang.]
If the railways are built then the ports at Dong Ha and Da Nang would be the big winners, receiving freight from Laos and Thailand. It would also mean you could travel from Da Nang to Yangon by train. That would make it the world’s second Indian-Pacific railway (after the Australian railway). The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea (East Sea in Vietnam) is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean.
This Laos-Vietnam railway also has competition from another proposed Laos-Vietnam railway, connecting Thakhek in Laos to Vung Ang port. This route connects Vientiane to what would be its closest sea port. This route is serving a different region, but if only one railway is built at a time then this may get built first.
Links and Resources
East-West Economic Corridor Business Portal – E-platform for trade promotion and business opportunities along East-West Economic Corridor of the Mekong subregion.
Quang Tri Economic Zone – Quang Tri Province is by the East Sea the eastern end of the EWEC. This economic zone at Cua Viet Port is near the city of Dong Ha.
mythuyport.com – A new port in the Southeast Economic Zone of Quang Tri, built to serve the EWEC.
News Archive
2024
Vietnamese, Lao provinces consider building joint cross-border economic zone – [11/03/24]
“In the future, the province will also consider building the Dong Ha – Lao Bao railway to be linked with the Densavan – Savannakhet railway of Laos, thereby forming a railway on the East West Economic Corridor (EWEC).”
2022
Laos rethinks Savannakhet to Lao Bao railway project – [21/09/22]
Sign MOU to study the construction of the railway from Savannakhet-Laobao province – [16/09/22]
“Signing MOU for Savannakhet-Lao Bao Railway for the feasibility study and EIA with the distance of 220 km, 11 stations and a price tag of 5,000 million US dollars.”
2021
Cash-strapped investor needs partners for $619 mln seaport in central Vietnam – [09/10/21]
“The My Thuy Seaport, which will have 10 berths, is planned to be built in three phases till 2036. It will mainly serve Quang Tri’s Southeast Economic Zone, as well as cargo in transit from Laos and the northeast region of Thailand on the East-West economic corridor.”
Details of Mae Sot-Nakhon Sawan railway to be released Friday – [15/03/21]
2020
SRT launches project for East-West corridor railway in Thailand – [20/09/20]
Construction of My Thuy Seaport kicked off – [27/02/20]
“The seaport complex aims to provide transport services in industrial zones (IZs) in the Southeast Economic Zone and other IZs in the province, as well as goods in transit from Laos and Northeastern Thailand in the East-West Economic Corridor.”
2019
Japan eyes high-speed rail in EWEC economic area – [22/08/19]
“Japan became interested after the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reviewed the project and found the high-speed rail link to be a feasible investment. “It will enhance investment along the route and strengthen economic growth in neighbouring countries, as well as the Thai special economic zones at the border of Mae Sot and Mukdahan”.”
A convergence of two Indo-Pacific policies – [23/02/19]
“India and Japan are building a giant corridor to increase connectivity options for ASEAN countries, especially Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.”
2018
Da Nang plans to become Asean logistics center – [14/08/18]
“We aim to build up Da Nang as a regional logistics centre to meet import and export needs among domestic and foreign direct investment enterprises. Partners in Asean could boost trading with Vietnamese businesses along the EWEC transport system and via Da Nang ports”
East-West Economic Corridor international fair opens in Da Nang – [04/08/18]
Rail link to Tak gets nod from cabinet – [13/06/18]
“The cabinet accepted in principle Tuesday a proposal to construct a double-track railway linking Tak and Nakhon Phanom as part of the transport routes under the East-West Economic Corridor.”
“Under the proposal, the double-track railway would connect Tak’s Mae Sot district with Nakhon Phanom in the northeast via Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan and Khon Kaen.”
My Thuy International Seaport a step closer to reality – [31/01/18]
“My Thuy International Seaport comes closer to completion through the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Rich & Wise JSC and the investor My Thuy International Port Joint Venture Company (MTIP).”
2017
Japan courted for East-West Economic Corridor – [13/09/17]
“…the high-speed rail project will initially link the east side of Asean, starting from central Vietnam, to Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, eventually reaching India. The goal is to create greater economic value for the countries involved.”
East-West economic corridor fair to open in Da Nang – [10/08/17]
Korea Rail Network Authority accelerates Thailand’s rail market advance – [11/05/17]
“…the KRNA proposed an 800km-long route connecting Maesot, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen and Mukdahan. The route passes two economic development zones – Maesot and Mukdahan – and three airports – Maesot, Phitsanulok and Khon Kaen. It also bypasses an ancient ruin site and national park in Sukhothai.”
The road not taken – [20/02/17]
“Launched nearly two decades ago, the East-West Economic Corridor has never really lived up to its potential and may be overtaken by new regional connectivity schemes.”
2015
Japan rail projects: Somkid off to Japan to speed up work – [03/11/15]
“Japan will invest in railway development projects, consisting of two east-west corridor routes — from Kanchanaburi to Sa Kaeo, and Tak to Mukdahan.”
Approval comes for Quang Tri Southeast Economic Zone – [17/09/15]
“The zone will include functional areas such as industrial parks (IPs), administrative areas, residential areas, tourist areas, service areas, and a port, among others.”
East-West economic corridor fair opens in Da Nang – [31/07/15]
“The East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) tourism and investment trade fair 2015 opened in Da Nang city on July 30 with the participation of 200 enterprises and 400 booths.”
Thai Logistics Infrastructure Study of the East West Economic Corridor [PDF] – [May 2015]
– J. Wanitwattanakosol and D. Pongpatcharatorntep.
2014
Authorities to hold talks over delayed rail project – [28/05/14]
“Lao authorities plan to hold talks with a foreign investor to discuss why they have yet to begin the US$5 billion Savan-Laobao rail project, a senior government official said.”
Laos breaks ground on railway project linking Thailand to Vietnam [03/01/14]
“Laos has broken ground on an ambitious high-speed railway project linking the country’s western border with Thailand to Vietnam and is likely to begin full construction this month, according to sources.”
2012
GCL names designer for Laos rail job – [19/12/12]
“Plans to turn Laos from a landlocked into land-linked nation is starting to take shape with the Savannakhet-Lao Bao rail project undertaken by Malaysian company Giant Consolidated Ltd (GCL) going through the final process of detailing and survey works.”
Malaysian company in $5 billion railway deal in Laos – [05/11/12]
A little known Malaysian company, Giant Consolidated Ltd, has won a $5 billion deal to build a 220 kilometre rail link in Laos, a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s department confirmed on Monday.
2010
East-West Economic corridor still in planning stage: ADB official – [08/11/10]
“The 1450-kilometre East-West economic corridor would link the South China Sea at Danang to Mawlamyine through Laos and Thailand with air, rail and highway transport. The project has been on the table since 2005, but now faces revitalisation following the adoption of the master plan leading to 2015.”
Strategy and Action Plan for the Greater Mekong Subregion East-West Economic Corridor – [2010]
“This report aims to revise and update the strategy and action plan for the EWEC as a means of consolidating planning and programming activities by government authorities and development partners.” – Asian Development Bank.
2009
Asia takes first step on modern ‘Silk Route’ – [22/06/09]
“A seemingly obscure agreement on traffic rights between Vietnam, Laos and Thailand now allows trucks to transit the three countries without having to unload cargo at border crossings for trans-shipment.”
2008
Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Socialist Republic of Viet Nam: Greater Mekong Subregion: East−West Corridor Project – [PDF] – [December 2008]
Asian Development Bank – Performance Evalutaion Report.
[Image via ADB.]
How about Myanmar for EWECI project
We are waiting to see what port they develop and when they will connect to Thailand with a railway.
Some says that EWEC project has done in 2016, but actually in what percentage of the current project developed? And how far can influence to nearby local transit?
Please reply for support my thesis