National Strategic Project
In the early days of the new year, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang answered an interview with Vietnam Television about the achievements in 2023 as well as the plans and goals of the transport sector in 2024.
Notably, the Minister mentioned the roadmap for implementing the North-South high-speed railway project in 2024. Accordingly, the North-South high-speed railway is a strategic project for the nation and the people, helping to create a breakthrough momentum for socioeconomic development and contribute to enhancing the country’s competitive capacity.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, this is a project with complex technical and technological standards, using a large amount of special funding, and is also the first project to be implemented in Vietnam. Therefore, the project needs to be carefully and meticulously researched, in line with the development trend of the world but also suitable for specific conditions of Vietnam.
Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang. Photo: VTV
The head of the Ministry of Transport stated that the Ministry is closely following the Resolution of the Politburo and the guidance of the Prime Minister to coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities to vigorously implement the construction project and the feasibility study report for the North-South high-speed railway. The Ministry of Transport will actively carry out procedures to start the project as soon as possible.
At the national conference to summarize the work in 2023 and deploy tasks in 2024 with the participation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Ministry of Transport set the goal and strive to have competent authorities approve the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project in 2024.
In late November 2023, the Investment Policy draft for the North-South high-speed railway project was submitted by the Ministry of Transport to the Government Standing Committee and the Steering Committee for Construction and Implementation of the Investment Policy draft for the North-South high-speed railway and important national railway projects for consideration before being submitted to the competent authorities and the National Assembly for approval.
Prior to that, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW on the development orientation of the Vietnamese railway transport until 2030, the vision to 2045, identifying that “Rail transport plays a key role in the North-South economic corridor” and set the goal of completing the approval of the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project by 2025.
According to the railway network planning for the period 2021-2030, the vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister in 2021, the North-South high-speed railway line from Ngoc Hoi station to Thu Thiem station is 1,545 km long, with double tracks of 1,435 mm gauge.
The government has set the target to complete the approval of the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project in 2025 and start construction in 2030, prioritizing the Hanoi-Vinh and HCMC-Nha Trang sections.
By 2045, Vietnam will complete and put into operation the North-South high-speed railway line.
Railway industry restructuring roadmap
Regarding the North-South high-speed railway project, recently the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) reported to the Ministry of Transport a corresponding restructuring roadmap for the key railway sector project.
The VNR restructuring roadmap will be implemented in phases corresponding to the investment roadmap of the North-South high-speed railway project.
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Specifically, from 2025 to 2030, the organization structure of VNR will be kept stable, similar to the 2021-2025 period, but it will enhance capacity and personnel to operate the existing railway system and participate in the construction of the high-speed railway project, while also preparing the necessary human resources for the operation and maintenance of this line.
From 2030 to 2032, or after the high-speed railway project is completed and officially put into operation, a member limited liability company for managing, maintaining, and operating the high-speed railway and a member limited liability company for high-speed railway transportation will be established.
In the following phase, from 2032 to 2045, or until the project is completed and put into operation, VNR will centrally and uniformly manage both the conventional railway system and the high-speed railway system through the Ministry of Transport’s Railway Operations Center.
In November 2023, the Draft Investment Policy for the North-South High-Speed Railway Project was submitted by the Ministry of Transport for consultation with 3 different scenarios regarding the total investment amount.
Specifically, Scenario 1: Building a new dual-track North-South railway line, gauge 1,435mm, length 1,545km, design speed 350km/h, axle load 17 tons/axle, operation of passenger trains separately; upgrading and renovating the existing North-South railway line for transporting goods, tourism passengers, and short-haul passengers. The estimated total investment for this scenario is about $67.32 billion.
Scenario 2: Building a new dual-track North-South railway line, gauge 1,435mm, axle load 22.5 tons/axle, shared operation of both passenger and freight trains; design speed of about 200-250km/h, maximum train speed of 120km/h, modernizing the existing North-South railway line for transporting goods, tourism passengers, and short-haul passengers. The estimated total investment for this project is about $72.02 billion.
Scenario 3: Building a new dual-track North-South railway line, gauge 1,435mm, axle load 22.5 tons/axle, operation of passenger and backup freight trains when needed; design speed 350km/h. The estimated total investment for this project is about $68.98 billion. If investing immediately in infrastructure, equipment, and vehicles to serve continuous freight trains from North to South, the investment cost is about $71.69 billion.
