occurred on 5 March 2009. On 22 February 2006, approval of funding for the rail line from Thanaleng Railway Station to Vientiane, was announced by the French Development Agency. A US$50 million loan was also reportedly received from the Thai government for the extension. Construction was originally slated to begin in December 2010, and Lao railway officials had confirmed as late as September 2010 that plans would go ahead. The extension, which would have taken an estimated three years to complete, would have stretched from Thanaleng to a new main Khamsavath Station The station will be completed by June 2022 and open 2023. Since February 2010 the Eastern and Oriental Express crosses the Mekong via the bridge into Laos. There is currently no connection to the China-Laos Railway but the standard gauge line circles the north east of Vientiane to a depot just 2 km from the Friendship Bridge. A new bridge is proposed from this point to join the proposed Thai High speed line at Nong Khai station just south of the Mekong. See also List of crossings of the Mekong River Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge Fifth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge Sixth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge Seventh Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge Transport in Laos Transport in Thailand Laos–Thailand relations Kunming–Singapore railway References External links Eastern and Oriental Express Video: journey, Nong Khai to Thanaleng Video: RHN Hitachi Railcars, built in 1967 Bridges over the Mekong River International bridges Laos–Thailand border crossings Bridges in Thailand Bridges in Laos Road-rail bridges International railway lines Rail transport in Laos Railway bridges in Thailand Buildings and structures in Nong Khai province Buildings and structures in Vientiane Bridges completed in 1994 Greater Mekong Subregion