The recently opened short-distance train route between Saigon and the bordering province of Binh Duong will be temporarily closed in late June, according to an announcement from state-owned Saigon Railways.

The suburban Saigon-Di An train route is scheduled to temporarily cease operation beginning on June 26 when the Ghenh Bridgereopens to traffic, said the railway firm.

Saigon Railways announced on Tuesday that, beginning at 0:00 on June 26, five daily trains will run between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, carrying passengers to all terminals along the route, eliminating the need for passengers to travel from Song Than Railway Station in Ho Chi Minh City to Bien Hoa Railway Station in Binh Duong by shuttle bus.

The railway agency will also offer rail routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan), Quang Ngai (Quang Ngai), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Vinh (Nghe An), and vice versa.

The Saigon-Di An rail route opened on April 15 in order to carry passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai and Binh Duong Provinces during the reconstruction of the Ghenh Bridge, the railway bridge whose collapse on March 20 completely immobilized north-to-south train services.

The short-haul rail route, serving an average of 2,075 daily commuters, has received positive reactions from the public. On its busiest days, the route carries over 6,500 passengers, according to Saigon Railways.

The route is also meant to shuttle people from south to north and vice versa via a shuttle bus service while the Ghenh Bridge is under repair.