Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vũ Đại Thắng speaks at the ground-breaking and inauguration ceremonies for major projects and works marking the 81st anniversary of National Day. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội authorities on Friday broke ground on two major national railway projects and launched or inaugurated 17 key works, marking a major step in reorganising the capital’s railway network, strengthening inter-regional connectivity and easing infrastructure bottlenecks.

The two key national railway projects are the Ngọc Hồi-Kim Sơn section of the Eastern Ring Railway project and the relocation of the Phú Xuyên-Ngọc Hồi section of the Hà Nội–HCM City railway. They are expected to reorganise the railway hub in southern Hà Nội, strengthen regional connectivity and increase passenger, freight and logistics capacity.

The Eastern Ring Railway project's Ngọc Hồi-Kim Sơn section has a preliminary investment of VNĐ27.75 trillion (about US$1.06 billion). Its main 31.3km section from the Thường Tín area to Kim Sơn, together with connecting branches, will be built as an electrified double-track railway with a 1,435mm gauge and a maximum design speed of 120km per hour. It will serve both passenger and freight trains and is scheduled for completion in December 2028.

Once operational, the line will connect the Ngọc Hồi hub with the northern railway network, helping form an inter-regional freight transport corridor, ease pressure on radial railway routes and reduce the need for freight trains to enter central Hà Nội. It is also expected to shorten transport times, lower logistics costs and support greener transport.

Meanwhile, the 26.5km railway relocation project, plus a 3km connecting section from Ngọc Hồi to the Bắc Hồng–Văn Điển railway, will be built as a single-track railway with a 1,000mm gauge and a maximum design speed of 100km per hour. It is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2027.

It will include three new stations - Ngọc Hồi as a passenger hub, Thường Tín as a freight hub and Phú Xuyên as a passing station. Ngọc Hồi and Thường Tín stations will facilitate connections between railway lines with different gauges.

The two projects will connect at the planned Ngọc Hồi railway complex, covering about 260ha and designed to integrate national and urban railway stations, train yards and depots. The complex is expected to serve as a major interchange between railway lines and other modes of transport.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vũ Đại Thắng said the projects are important to gradually reorganising the national railway network through Hà Nội while ensuring consistency with the city’s transport infrastructure and urban development plans.

He stressed that the large and technically complex projects require close coordination among central and local agencies from the planning and investment preparation stages through land clearance and construction. Project owners must ensure feasible schedules, adequate resources and responsibility for quality and progress.

The same day, the municipal authorities organised the groundbreaking or inauguration of 54 projects and works worth VNĐ401.2 trillion as part of activities to celebrate the 81st anniversary of National Day.

Among them, 17 representative projects —11 completed or technically opened to traffic and six newly launched - focus on transport, railways, water supply and drainage, urban development and reconstruction, and the renovation of the West Lake area. — VNA/VNS