The Transport Ministry of Vietnam is collecting feedback from relevant agencies on a pre-feasibility study of a railway project linking nine northern provinces and cities, with a total investment of VND205.9 trillion (US$8.1 billion).

The project, a 388-kilometer dual-purpose line for passengers and freight, will feature speeds of up to 160kph in its initial phase.

The railway will start from Lao Cai Province, near the Chinese border, to Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong City, passing through nine provinces and cities, including Hanoi. 

Initially designed as a single-track, 1,435mm standard-gauge, electrified railway with a capacity of 22.5 metric tons per axle, the line will later be upgraded to a double-track system, allowing speeds of over 200kph.

Once the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway is put into operation, travel times will be drastically reduced compared to road travel, with express trains completing the journey in 3.5 hours, regular passenger trains in 4.6 hours, and freight trains in 5.4 hours.

Meanwhile, it currently takes six hours to travel by road.

The route will include 30 stations, comprising three main assembly hubs, 13 mixed-use stations, and 14 technical stations. 

Key depots will be located at Yen Vien Station and Yen Thuong Station for passenger and freight operations, with locomotive and wagon repair facilities at Lao Cai Station and Hai Phong Station.

By 2050, the railway is expected to handle 14.7 million passengers and 21.5 million metric tons of cargo annually.

The project will require 2,576 hectares of land and involve the relocation of over 4,700 households.

The total investment includes VND29.560 trillion ($1.2 billion) for land clearance and resettlement, VND107.653 trillion ($4.2 billion) for construction, VND9.472 trillion ($373 million) for vehicles, and VND1.906 trillion ($75 million) for equipment. 

The cost per kilometer is approximately $15.43 million, which is competitive compared to similar rail projects worldwide.

According to the project’s consulting unit, funding would primarily come from official development assistance loans and the state budget, with infrastructure and initial vehicles developed through public investment. 

Private enterprises will be invited to invest in rolling stock, manage operations, and pay infrastructure fees once the railway is operational.

The transport ministry plans to finalize the pre-feasibility study by January 2025 and submit it for government and National Assembly approval by March 2025. 

Land clearance, technical design, and contractor selection will take place from 2025 to 2027, with construction starting in late 2025. 

Trial operations are scheduled for late 2030, with full operations beginning in early 2031.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!