Vietnam transport ministry unveils 3 scenarios for North-South express railway

The Ministry of Transport is seeking feedback on three scenarios for construction of the colossal North-South high-speed railway, which is expected to shorten travel time considerably between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s two largest economic hubs.

In the first scenario, a new 1.435-meter double-lane railway with a length of 1,545 kilometers and a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour will be built. It will serve passengers only while the existing railway will be upgraded for cargo transport and travelers in short hauls. The total cost is estimated at $67.32 billion.

In the second scenario, a new 1.435-meter double-lane railway will be built, serving both passenger and cargo transport. The maximum speed will be 200-250 km/h and that for cargo will be 120 km/h. The existing railway will also be upgraded for cargo transport and short-haul travelers. The total cost of this scenario is estimated at $72.02 billion.

In the third scenario, a new 1.435-meter double-lane railway will be built, running through 20 provinces and cities, with a designed maximum speed of 350 km/h. It will be dedicated to passenger transportation, and cargo when needed.

The total cost is calculated at $68.98 billion, and will rise to $71.69 billion if more equipment is invested to serve dual purposes – passenger and cargo transport in parallel.

In this scenario, there will be 23 passenger stations, five maintenance and repair facilities, five cargo stations, and an additional 28 km of railway to connect cargo depots.

The Ministry of Construction has shown support for the third scenario, which will transport an estimated 133.5 million passengers per year and 20 million tons of cargo.

The ministry also suggested upgrading the existing North-South railway by replacing all 1.0-meter tracks with 1.435-meter rails to serve international connectivity.

The Vietnamese government in early October established an interdisciplinary steering committee to oversee the implementation of the North-South high-speed railway project and other vital rail routes. In its first meeting, Prof. Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnam's Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE), called on authorities not to postpone the project any further.

A number of Chinese corporations have expressed interest in participating in this landmark railway project and other future railways in Vietnam.