A freight train in Yên Viên Station, Gia Lâm. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Two new railway lines are planned by 2030 for passenger and freight transportation according to the approved Railway Network Planning by the Prime Minister.

Specifically, in accordance with Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW dated February 28, 2023 of the Politburo, the Prime Minister has approved the plan to implement the railway network planning, including continuing the preparation for investment in these two railway lines in the period from now until 2025 to mobilise resources and strive for commencement before 2030.

Among them, the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu railway line is currently undergoing preparation for a feasibility report. It is approximately 128km long, with a double-track, and a gauge of 1,435mm, and is designed for passenger and freight transportation.

The total investment is estimated at around US$6.2 billion. As for the Lào Cai-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng railway line, the detailed planning has been basically completed. It is approximately 380km long, with a double-track, and a gauge of 1,435mm, and is intended for passenger and freight transportation. The total investment is estimated at around US$10-11 billion.

The Ministry of Transport emphasises the need for early implementation and investment in these two railway projects, with public investment playing a leading role in infrastructure investment for both cargo and passenger transportation.

"Due to the relatively large scale of investment for the two railway lines, the Prime Minister has issued a list of national projects calling for foreign investment during the 2021-2025 period to mobilise investment resources, including the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu and Lào Cai-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng railway lines," stated the leaders of the Ministry of Transport.

The development of a modern and synchronised railway transportation system, playing a leading role in the North-South Economic Corridor and the major East-West transportation corridors, has been evaluated by the Vietnam Railway Association as a transportation mode with superior advantages in capacity and speed for medium and long distances.

It plays an important role in promoting socio-economic development and enhancing connectivity between regions. However, it has been continuously declining in recent times.

After nearly 10 years of implementing the Socialisation Investment Mobilisation Plan for railway infrastructure, by the end of 2022, the Ministry of Transport had only successfully implemented one project (the Viên Yên Railway Logistics Centre through the form of infrastructure leasing). Other projects have attracted investor interest without further progress.

In February, during a working session with Nippon Koei (Japan), Đặng Sỹ Mạnh, CEO of Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), mentioned two priority investment options for the Ha Nội-Hải Phòng railway line: preparing to invest in a new electrified double-track railway primarily for domestic and international freight transportation; and upgrading and renovating the existing single-track railway for both passenger and freight transportation.

"VNR desires to expedite the implementation of these routes as soon as possible. Therefore, both sides will continue to conduct further surveys on the Hà Nội-Hải Phòng railway line with the goal of optimising the upgrade of the existing railway, improving safety corridors and railway vehicles, and subsequently submitting it to the Ministry of Transport," Mạnh said. — VNS