Vietnam pushes to break ground on North-South high-speed railway by end-2026

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh has asked relevant agencies to ensure Vietnam's flagship North-South high-speed railway project can break ground by the end of 2026.

In a conclusion issued after a review meeting, Minh noted that the current context requires the “highest level of focus and decisiveness” to advance key railway projects, particularly the trans-Vietnam high-speed rail line.

He identified land clearance as a critical bottleneck for meeting the construction timeline, calling for early handover of project land in accordance with legal requirements.

Relevant agencies were also instructed to coordinate in advance on the relocation of technical infrastructure to prevent delays that could stall the project.

On project preparation and implementation mechanisms, Minh directed the ministry’s planning and finance department to urgently complete a report proposing special policy frameworks, investment models, and investor selection criteria for the railway.

The department of construction investment economics and management was tasked with leading the development of a detailed implementation schedule, in coordination with project stakeholders, to meet the end-2026 groundbreaking target.

A key priority will be the application of special mechanisms to accelerate the selection of consultants for the feasibility study.

The ministry will also establish steering committees for national railway projects. For the North–South high-speed rail, the committee will be chaired by the construction minister, with Deputy Minister Bui Xuan Dung serving as permanent vice chair.

Approved by the National Assembly on November 30, 2024, the high-speed rail project will stretch 1,541 kilometers from Ngoc Hoi Station (Hanoi) to Thu Thiem Station (Ho Chi Minh City), passing through 15 provinces and cities after recent administrative reorganizations.

Designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h, the dual-track railway will use standard gauge (1,435 mm) and accommodate 23 passenger stations and five freight stations.

While primarily focused on passenger transport, the line will also be equipped for dual-use purposes, including national defense and emergency freight capacity. The project will use public investment capital and be implemented in phases, with feasibility studies beginning in 2025 and targeted completion by 2035.

Last week, Vingroup (HoSE: VIC) pulled its bid for the high-speed rail line to "reallocate resources to other large infrastructure projects".