Trans-Vietnam high-speed railway work to start by 2030

The Communist Party’s Politburo said Vietnam must start work on the north-south expressway railway before 2030 so that it can be completed by 2045.

The Party’s highest decision-making body said in a new conclusion that by 2025, related units must complete all procedures to approve the investment policy of the north-south high-speed railway project so that construction can start before 2030.

In the 2026 – 2030 period, priority will be given to the two express railway sections of Hanoi–Vinh, which connects the capital city of Hanoi with Nghe An Province’s Vinh Town, the biggest city and economic and cultural center of north-central Vietnam, and the Ho Chi Minh City–Nha Trang section, which links the nation’s biggest city with the beach town of Nha Trang.

The Politburo identified the north-south high-speed railway as the « backbone » axis that will be connected with urban railways, major economic centers, seaports, airports, and international borders.

According to the Ministry of Transport, following the conclusion of the Politburo meeting, the government will ask the National Assembly to approve the investment policy of the railway project in the 2021-2026 term.

After that, the ministry will prepare a feasibility report and prepare to clear construction site for the project.

A pre-feasibility report by the transport ministry said the north-south high-speed railway will stretch 1,559 kilometers with trains moving at speeds of 320-350 kilometers per hour. This high speed railway will be used to transport passengers, while the current traditional railway routes will be used to transport goods.

The total investment for the project is expected to be over $58 billion.

At 320 kilometers per hour, it would only take an hour or so to get from Hanoi to Vinh, while air travel would take around three hours, including time for airport procedures. It will take around 4.2 hours to get from Hanoi to Nha Trang, also faster than flying for 4.5 hours. The high speed train will take 5.5 hours to travel from Hanoi to HCMC, while flying would take 4.5 hours.

In January, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked a second time for Japan’s support to build the railway, as he met with Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki in Hanoi.

In July last year, he asked the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to support the project when he met JBIC Chairman Maeda Tadashi in Hanoi.

By Anh Duy – VnExpress.net – March 1, 2023