HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has asked relevant ministries and agencies to make reports after assessing the environment impacts of the high-speed North-South Railway project.

The Ministry of Transport, in co-operation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment were asked to evaluate and approve the pre-feasibility study of the project, including reports on environment impacts in accordance with laws and legal regulations.

The development plan of a high-speed railway (HSR) was officially included in the adjustments to the Việt Nam Rail Transport Development Strategy until 2020 and the Việt Nam Rail Transport Development Master Plan until 2020. Both documents were signed by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc in 2015.

The north-south HSR, connecting Hà Nội and HCM City, is planned in four major phases.

The transport ministry will build a plan for an HSR, having a standard track gauge of 1,435mm and prepare to first build rail sections in great demand, for example the two routes of Hà Nội-Vinh in the central province of Nghệ An and HCM City-Nha Trang in the central coastal province of Khánh Hòa .

During the 10-year period, from 2020 to 2030, the construction of different sections will begin, with designed speeds ranging from 160km per hour to less than 200km per hour.

The north-south HSR route is due to be completed in 2050. After that, it is hoped the train can run at a maximum speed of 350km per hour, roughly the same as Japan’s Shinkansen. — VNS