At the ceremony to open the first Thailand-Laos-China cargo train running from Map Ta Phut in Rayong province of Thailand bound to China’s Guangzhou. (Photo source: nationthailand.com)

Bangkok - The first Thailand-Laos-China cargo train left Map Ta Phut in Rayong province of Thailand bound for China’s Guangzhou on April 19, carrying durians.

The train is transporting 25 refrigerated containers of the fruit and will take five days to travel 3,453 kilometres to Guangzhou.

This cargo train is part of the "Opening of Thailand-Laos-China International Freight Train" project to facilitate the transport of products.

Kraiyasit Intarapanich, managing director of Global Multimodal Logistics (GML), said the rail transport will be the best choice for Thai farmers to export to China as it is a faster and safer way to export than by trucks and ships, and it also helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The Map Ta Phut-Kunming route will take three to four days, Map Ta Phut-Chongqing four to five days, and Map Ta Phut to Guangzhou five to six days.