VIENTIANE: The Railway Police Department has strengthened security measures across the Laos-China and Lao-Thai railways, reporting significant operational achievements during the first six months of 2026.
Police were deployed at all stations and carried out railway patrols and joint operations to protect passengers, trains and railway infrastructure.
The department focused on specialised policing while strengthening coordination with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of railway operations.
Police also conducted regular inspections of security measures at stations and along the railway in Vientiane and the northern provinces, according to Lao Security News.
Head of the Railway Police Department, ColonelKongsy Souvannatoum, told Public Security Media last week that on the Laos-China Railway, police deployed security personnel at Vientiane station to monitor ticketing areas, X-ray stations, boarding and alighting points, and ensure security on trains.
Each of these duties was undertaken on 183 occasions, while overall security operations at Laos-China Railway stations were conducted 580 times.
Railway police provided security on 582 train services carrying 324,330 passengers, while security personnel were stationed at freight stations on 44 occasions.
On the Lao-Thai Railway, police conducted station security operations 119 times. The railway recorded 560 inbound and outbound train trips, serving 35,022 passengers.
Railway police also stepped up patrol and special operations. Officers conducted 119 railway line patrols and carried out 580 joint patrols with provincial and district public security personnel. In addition, special escorts for high-level Party and State leaders travelling by train were provided on 18 occasions.
The department also strengthened links with the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd., assisting with the transport of 2,061 suspected law-breakers. Officers also attended meetings to discuss the draft National Plan of Action on Anti-Human Trafficking Phase IV (2026-2030), as well as meetings concerning railway safety.
Railway police also assisted with the review and development of legislation, including proposed decrees concerning fines.
In the second half of the year, the Railway Police Department plans to intensify measures to prevent and address security and safety problems along the country’s railways.
The department will raise public awareness of the regulations relating to railway operations, while encouraging government agencies, local authorities and communities to participate in security efforts linked to grassroots development and implementation of the government’s two national agendas.
Railway police will undergo training to enhance security on trains, at stations and along railway lines. The department intends to improve officials’ capabilities and readiness to respond effectively to emerging challenges.
In addition, the Railway Police Department plans to strengthen international cooperation, particularly with strategic partner countries, to learn from their experiences and identify strategies that could be applied to railway policing in Laos.
The department said these measures are intended to further strengthen railway security and ensure safer and more efficient rail services for passengers, railway workers, and the wider public. - Vientiane Times/ANN
