HÀ NỘI — Railway authorities are adjusting the departure time of some passenger trains in the Thống Nhất route from Hà Nội to HCM City starting from May 15.

The aim is to improve the service quality and meet the needs of customers.

Việt Nam Railways (VNR) has confirmed that from Tuesday, the railways will change the departure time of the SE1, SE2, SE3 and SE4 trains.

Previously, there were 10 passenger trains on the Thống Nhất route (SE1-SE10).

With the new timings in place, SE1 will now depart from Hà Nội Railway Station at 10.20pm daily, SE2 will depart from HCM Railway Station at 9.55pm daily, SE3 will depart from HàNội at 7.30pm daily and SE4 will depart from HCM City at 7.45pm daily.

The timing of some trains at the sub-stations along the route will also change.

An official of VNR said these were good-quality and newly built trains, adding that passengers of SE1-SE6 will continue to receive free meals in the trains.

Vũ Anh Minh, chairman of VNR’s member board, said VNR would focus on changing the mindset of passengers. “Railway should not only be a means of transport for visitors. They should enjoy their journey the moment they board the train,” he said.

The railways is expected to build six more trains this year, increasing the number to 12, with 180 carriages.

Meanwhile, VNR continues to improve its carriages. The quality of a carriage can be improved if it maintains at least 80 per cent of its original quality.

A train’s using duration in Việt Nam is about 10 years, some can survive for 30-40 years.

VNR also plans to introduce other facilities in future, such as early sale of tickets (six months before departure), improvement of infrastructure and on-board facilities (wi-fi, promoting tourism on-board in five-six languages via headphones, air conditioner) and calling for investment from all economic sectors to build luxury waiting rooms in stations, among others.

Minh said railways was losing popularity not because of the high prices of tickets but because of poor quality of service.

“The railway sector plans to provide passengers what they need rather than provide what it already has,” he said. — VNS