Proposing a special mechanism for the North-South high-speed railway project

On the morning of October 5, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the State Steering Committee for important national projects and works, key to the transport sector, chaired a meeting of the Government Standing Committee with ministries and branches on the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project and the implementation of railway projects connecting with China.

Also attending were: Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh; Deputy Prime Ministers Tran Hong Ha, Le Thanh Long, Ho Duc Phoc; Ministers, leaders of central ministries and branches.

The project on investment in high-speed railway on the North-South axis has been approved by the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee, and assigned to the Government to develop the project to submit to the 15th National Assembly at the 8th Session.

The project was actively researched by the Ministry of Transport, together with ministries, departments and branches, with experiences and models from 22 countries and territories being consulted, and learning experiences from 6 countries that own and master high-speed railway technology.

On that basis, the proposal for the North-South high-speed railway with a length of 1,541km, designed at a speed of 350km/h; on the route there are 23 passenger stations, 5 freight stations, starting from Ngoc Hoi station, Hanoi, passing through 20 provinces and cities and ending at Thu Thiem station, Ho Chi Minh City; preliminary calculations determine the total investment of the project at about 67.34 billion USD.

The Ministry of Transport aims to submit the investment policy to the National Assembly for approval; bid to select international consultants, conduct surveys, prepare pre-feasibility studies in 2025-2026; carry out site clearance, select contractors and start construction of component projects on the Hanoi-Vinh and Nha Trang-Ho Chi Minh City sections by the end of 2027; start construction of component projects on the Vinh-Nha Trang section in 2028-2029 and strive to complete investment in the entire route by 2035.

Also according to the Ministry of Transport, relevant ministries and agencies are actively developing projects and implementing three railway routes connecting Vietnam and China, including: Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong; Lang Son-Hanoi; and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong.

The Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway line is about 380km long, with an expected track gauge of 1,435mm, transporting passengers and goods, with a passenger train speed of 160km/h and a freight train speed of about 120km/h; the total estimated investment is about 11.6 billion USD.

The Hanoi-Lang Son railway line is about 156km long, with an expected investment scale of 1,435mm gauge, passenger and cargo transport, passenger train speed of 160km/h, cargo train speed of about 120km/h; total expected investment of about 6.0 billion USD.

Hai Phong-Ha Long-Mong Cai railway line, about 187km long, expected investment scale of 1,435mm gauge, passenger train speed of 160km/h, freight train speed of about 120km/h; total expected investment of about 7.0 billion USD.

At the meeting, the Government Standing Committee and leaders of ministries and branches discussed the significance and importance of investing in the construction of railway projects for national development; analyzed the country's situation, international experience in investment, operation, socio-economic efficiency, etc.; political and legal bases for implementing the Central Government's policies, especially proposing the need for a special mechanism for resource mobilization and investment procedures for the North-South high-speed railway project.

Delegates also gave opinions on route direction, investment standards, technology; railway industry development, human resource training, management and operation of railway systems, etc.

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the meeting of the Government Standing Committee with ministries and branches aimed to implement the Resolution of the Central Committee and the conclusion of the Politburo on the investment policy of the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis.

Informing that the Central Committee and the Politburo have agreed on the policy and basic contents of the project, the Prime Minister requested the presiding ministry and relevant ministries and agencies to closely follow the policy of the Central Committee and the Politburo, and at the same time, to fully absorb the opinions of the Government Standing Committee and leaders of ministries and branches to submit to the Appraisal Council, complete the dossier before October 20, 2024 to submit to the National Assembly, in the spirit of "careful research and quick implementation."

Informing that the Central Committee and the Politburo agreed on the investment policy to build the entire North-South high-speed railway line, with a design speed of 350km/h; a dual-use railway, developing the economy and society and ensuring national defense and security, the Prime Minister noted that the project's effectiveness must be clearly studied and analyzed, not only in terms of economics, but also in terms of overall effectiveness.

Therefore, the study proposes an investment plan for a North-South high-speed railway line with the straightest possible route, avoiding large residential areas, saving the most money, implementing as quickly as possible, and soon serving the country's development...

Arrange and build suitable stations, promote functions, serve socio-economic development, ensure security and defense of localities and the whole region, have a long-term vision, but avoid waste.

This railway line must be built in accordance with national and industry planning, ensuring connectivity with other infrastructure and transport modes such as aviation and maritime; connecting domestic economic corridors and connecting with countries in the region such as China, Laos, Cambodia, etc.

The Prime Minister requested to review the investment rate and the preliminary total investment to ensure the most accurate possible; review and propose specific and special mechanisms for project implementation, especially in resource mobilization and procedural processes, specific policies on land, site clearance, construction materials, etc. with the motto "procedures must be shortened, construction must be shortened"; propose issues under the authority of the National Assembly, assign the National Assembly Standing Committee to review in advance; contents under the authority of the Government, assign the Government Standing Committee to preside over.

Regarding resources, it is necessary to propose a mechanism to mobilize and diversify resources, including public investment resources from the central and local levels; resources from bond issuance, loan capital and other legal resources. Along with financial resources, mobilize the total human resources and means of the country to serve the project.

Regarding the organization, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the Government has established a Working Group, in which the Support Group plays an important role, and must appoint a Deputy Minister of Transport to be in charge of this task, not to be rigid because when the situation changes, the implementation measures must be changed. The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to directly direct the implementation of the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project.

The Prime Minister directed to promote international cooperation to mobilize financial resources, transfer technology, train human resources, and manage science to build, manage, and operate railway lines safely, scientifically, and with the highest efficiency./.