Traveller's reports...
Traveller Glen Chivers reports: "On the shuttle train from Thanaleng to Nong Khai, 2nd class has reclining seats and extra leg room, 3rd class more basic seating. However you can actually sit where you want and the train journey took just 6 minutes with only about 25 people on board, every one of them a Westerner. The conductor - a security guard - was in an extremely jolly mood! The train left a few minutes late as it waited until everyone has cleared passport control (there was a bit of a queue, most arrived at the same time) and was on the train. Even so it was still another hour wait before catching train 70 overnight to Bangkok. We got our tickets in advance via the State Railway of Thailand online system before it was suspended and getting the Thanaleng-Nong Khai ticket at Thanaleng station was a breeze, had we used a travel agent they would have charged about 250 Baht on top of each ticket price. There is a 40 Baht per person stamp out fee, which can only be paid in Thai Baht. Bear in mind that Lao Kip cannot legally be taken out of the country so you shouldn't have any Kip left by the time you get to Thanaleng anyway.