Vietnam plans to start building a North-South high-speed railway at a cost of US$67 billion in December 2027, Nguyen Danh Huy, Deputy Minister of Transport, said at a meeting on Thursday. 

At a meeting of the steering committee for the North-South high-speed railway project and important national railway projects on Thursday, Deputy Minister Huy informed that after the law-making National Assembly approved the North-South high-speed railway project earlier this month, the Ministry of Transport has built a comprehensive plan to execute it, including choosing consultants, making, appraising and approving the pre-feasibility, and holding tenders for packages.

Leaders of relevant ministries and agencies have discussed the development of railway engineering, manpower training, capital mobilization, land use, transit-oriented development, and technology transfer plans.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said the trans-Vietnam high-speed railway project is expected to pave the way for the development of the high-speed railway sector in Vietnam.

Therefore, the plan to execute the project must be scientific, systematic and comprehensive, beginning with developing policies and standards, conducting surveys, producing designs, choosing technology, and then operating and managing the rail line.

Vietnam needs to take the initiative in developing the project and gradually become self-sufficient in the railway sector and related sectors, the deputy prime minister added.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal

He ordered a clear legal corridor and policies for the project, specifically amending the Law on Railway Transport by adding high-speed railway standards in technology, operation equipment, information management and construction safety, as well as special policies.

It is important to choose prestigious and experienced international consulting units, identify capital resources and the needed land, and clear the site.

He required determining phases of which Vietnamese enterprises can take control and products and services that they can provide.

Vietnam Railway was told to work out a plan to restructure its personnel to join the execution of the high-speed railway project and manage and operate the rail line when it is in place.

The high-speed rail line, stretching more than 1,500 kilometres from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, is expected to reduce the current journey time by rail from 30 hours to around five.

The new rail line will stop at 23 stations in 20 different cities and provinces, boosting connectivity between the regions.

The project is scheduled to take eight years -- beginning in 2027 and aiming for completion in 2035.

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