A study on strategy development of high-speed railway station’s surrounding area in Laos

Abstract

High-speed railways (HSR) has been established since the 1990s and developed strongly in Japan, France, Italy, ..., and have recently been built in developing countries. In that context, the Laos-China HSR was completed in 2021 with 422.4 km runs through Laos, connecting three countries: China, Laos, and Thailand. HSR system is one of the driving forces for urban development, however this factor has not been identified in Laos' urban development strategy. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a strategy development of space around HSR stations throughout Laos, including identifying potential, systematizing, proposing fractals for economic growth in urban areas with HSR running through, promoting Laos economic connection with the economies of neighboring countries. The research is based on liturerature review, secondary data methodologies to determine the potential of stations in relation to neighboring urban areas, and the development orientation of Laos. The conclusion proposes to classify spatial development around HSR stations into 3 types, which identifies key areas, as well as proposes future research directions.

Key words: High-speed railway; Laos-China HSR; HSR station; strategy development