Work on North-South express railway to start before 2030

The Politburo, the Communist Party's premier decision-making body, has set a target of approving investment for the North-South Express Railway by 2025 and starting its construction before 2030.

Under its freshly issued conclusion on orientations for railway transport development by 2030, with a vision to 2045, work on the Hanoi-Vinh and Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang express railway sections will kick off in 2026-2030 and the whole network will be completed before 2045.

By 2030, the existing railways will be upgraded, while urban rail links in big cities like Hanoi and HCMC will be built.

Priority will also be given to the construction of routes connecting international gateway seaports such as Hanoi-Hai Phong, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, Hanoi-Lao Cai, and Hanoi-Lang Son.

The Politburo stressed the importance and necessity of constructing national rail transport infrastructure, especially the North-South Express Railway, saying it will create important momentum for national socio-economic development, helping the country tap the advantages of strategic economic corridors, ensuring national security and defense, as well as promoting international integration.

"Therefore, agencies at all levels and sectors need to mobilize maximum resources for the development of a modern and synchronous rail transport system," it noted.

The North-South Express Railway is identified by the Politburo as the "backbone" axis that effectively utilizes the existing railways and connects with urban rail lines; major economic centers; domestic transportation system including seaports, airports and border gates; and international intermodal transport system.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the government will propose the National Assembly approve the investment plan for the North-South Express Railway project during its 2021-2026 term. After the investment plan is ratified, the ministry will make a feasibility report, approve the design, conduct site clearance, and start construction of the Hanoi-Vinh and HCMC-Nha Trang sections.

The ministry has completed the project’s pre-feasibility study report after consulting relevant ministries and agencies, experts, scientists and 20 localities that the route will run through.

The pre-feasibility report was submitted to the government in February 2019 and the cabinet has established a state council to appraise the report.

According to the pre-feasibility report, the North-South Express Railway will be a double track with 1,435 millimeter gauge, electrified, and 1,545 kilometers in length, and allow a maximum speed of about 320 kph.

It will pass through 20 provinces and cities including Hanoi, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh (in the north), Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Danang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan (in the central region), Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City (in the south). The starting point of the project is Ngoc Hoi Station in Hanoi, and the end point at Thu Thiem Station in HCMC.

The project’s total investment is estimated at about $58.71 billion, including $1.98 billion for site clearance, $31.58 billion for construction, $15 billion for equipment, $5.82 billion for management and consultancy, and the rest for contingency costs.