Ministry of Transport restarts North-South high-speed train project
On June 1, Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang requested relevant agencies to study and develop a North-South high-speed railway project to submit to the National Assembly before 2020.
At the Ministry of Transport meeting on June 1, Minister Dinh La Thang requested the relevant agencies to implement the Railway Development Strategy plan until 2030, in which, specify the goals of the North-South railway modernization program such as items, construction track types, train types used... in a transparent and public manner so that people and businesses know.
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High-speed trains have become quite popular in many countries around the world. |
Minister Thang also raised two issues that require the opinions of independent experts and the public on the North-South railway. That is to build a double-gauge railway right on the North-South route or build it into two sections: Hanoi - Vinh, Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang. The Minister said that with a short distance of 300 km, it is easy to invest, but some experts said that a railway distance of over 900 km will operate more effectively.
"Railway infrastructure is always criticized for being old and outdated. Minister after minister has been criticized by the people for being outdated if we do not invest in changes. We do not have money but still need infrastructure, must meet the requirements of modernization and industrialization, that is the problem that needs to be solved," said Minister Thang.
The Minister directed research agencies to develop a project for the North-South high-speed railway, striving to submit a report on the construction policy to the National Assembly before 2020.
According to the Railway Development Strategy approved by the Prime Minister earlier this year, before 2020, the transport sector will study the construction of new high-speed railways, 1,435m-gauge double-track railways, electrification on the North-South axis, and prepare to build in advance sections with high transport demand such as Hanoi - Vinh, Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang.
From 2020 to 2030, the transport sector will build a railway system with a speed of 160km/h-200km/h, double-track with a gauge of 1,435m, and upgrade infrastructure to be able to operate high-speed trains at 350km/h in the future.
By 2050, the 1,435 m gauge high-speed double-track railway will be completed along the entire North-South axis; after 2050, a 350 km/h high-speed train will be put into operation; the Central Highlands railway and the Trans-Asia railway will be completed...
| In 2010, the National Assembly rejected the $56 billion high-speed railway project proposed by the Government. Besides opinions that it is necessary to borrow capital to invest immediately, many opponents argued that the economic efficiency of the project is too low, the capital is too large, accounting for half of Vietnam's GDP, and will create a debt burden for future generations. |
According to VNE
