A train goes through the Hải Vân Mountain Pass in Đà Nẵng central city. — VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Dũng

HÀ NỘI — An appraisal council for railway lines and stations in the areas of ​​Hà Nội has been established under a decision of the Ministry of Transport (MoT).

The council will look at existing plans for railway routes and the most efficient ways to get new high speed lines into the city.

The council includes leaders of the Việt Nam Railways Authority (VNRA), the General Staff’s Department of Operations under the Ministry of National Defence; the Department of Economic Security under the Ministry of Public Security; the Department of Urban Infrastructure Development under the Ministry of Planning and Investment; and the Department of Technical Infrastructure under the Ministry of Construction.

Participating in the council are also leaders of the Department of Technology Evaluation, Appraisal and Inspection and the Department of Planning and Finance under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; the Department of Planning under the Ministry of Industry and Trade; and the Department of Technology and Infrastructure under the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises.

Members of the council encompass heads of the Hà Nội's Department of Transport, the Hà Nội's Department of Planning and Architecture, the Vĩnh Phúc Province's Department of Construction, the departments of transport of Hà Nam, Bắc Ninh, Hưng Yên and Thái Nguyên provinces and a number of advisory agencies under the MoT.

The MoT assigned the VNRA to provide full information and documents to members of the appraisal council during their working process and ensure working conditions and operating costs for the council according to regulations.

In the draft planning of the railway route in centre Hà Nội, the VNRA proposed to renovate and maintain five existing radial railway routes including Hà Nội-Đồng Đăng, Hà Nội-HCM City, Hà Nội-Hải Phòng, Hà Nội-Lào Cai and Hà Nội-Thái Nguyên.

The plan also targets building four new high-speed lines: Hà Nội-HCM City, Lào Cai-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng, Hà Nội-Lạng Sơn and Hà Nội-Quảng Ninh.

It will further develop the routes Ngọc Hồi-Lạc Đạo-Bắc Hồng-Thạch Lỗi and western Ngọc Hồi-Thạch Lỗi.

The VNRA proposed to use the Yên Viên Station as a passenger transport hub for trains heading west, northwest, and north directions.

The Yên Thường Station is the northern junction station for routes to Lạng Sơn, Cái Lân and Thái Nguyên.

The Bắc Hồng Station is an intermediate station whereas the Ngọc Hồi Station is for southern direction. — VNS