Tunnel breakthrough marks progress in China – Laos link

[David Benton]

"CHINA: On August 13 construction teams holed through the 14∙5 km Duoji tunnel in the Mojiang Hani district, northeast of the town of Pu’er Simao. The tunnel is one of the most challenging structures on the 507 km Yuxi – Mohan corridor, which forms the Chinese segment of the cross-border corridor linking Kunming with Vientiane in Laos."
https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/tun ... 2020200821

[lpetrich]

• Boten–Vientiane railway - Wikipedia
• China-Laos railway set for 2 December opening after last rail welded - Global Construction Review
• Bullet train for China-Laos railway arrives in Vientiane - Global Times

Vientiane is the nation's capital, on the border with Thailand. That nation has a railroad network - State Railway of Thailand - Wikipedia - with one line going to Nong Khai, near Vientiane.

The Thai railroad network is meter-gauge, and there are plans to build standard-gauge lines for high-speed service. One of these planned lines will go to Nong Khai, so it won't be necessary to break gauge.