The Ultimate Comeback: After 5 Years, 13 State-of-the-Art Train Cars Owned by a Chinese Conglomerate in Vietnam Are Back on Track.

Airplane-Standard Train Cars: A New Level of Comfort and Luxury

In a recent development, Saigon Railway Transport JSC has joined hands with Jinxin Group’s Railway Equipment Development Company to commercially operate the SNT6/SNT3 train route from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang.

This marks the first time that the railway sector has collaborated with a private company for commercial operations on the Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang route. With a total investment of over VND 275 billion, the luxurious train consists of 13 cars assembled by Gia Lam Locomotive JSC and Di An Locomotive JSC, featuring localized equipment.

JINXIN has equipped the train cars with modern features, offering passengers an aviation-like experience. The interior and amenities of the train resemble those of an airplane, including the introduction of advanced technology never before seen in Vietnam.

The exterior of the train cars boasts a striking red and white color scheme. The interior is dominated by a golden-wood hue, exuding modernity and elegance. The train consists of seating cars, four-berth sleeper cars, a dining car, and a conductor’s car.

Seating Cars: These cars feature swivel chairs that allow passengers to adjust their seating direction, reducing motion sickness caused by sitting in the opposite direction of the train’s movement. The chair backs are equipped with small foldable tables and mesh pockets for books and magazines. USB charging ports are conveniently located between the seats. The seat cushions and backrests are made of polyurethane foam, which is environmentally friendly, safe, and reliable.

Temperature Control: Unlike the common practice in Vietnamese railways, where the temperature is set for the entire car, the air conditioning in these train cars allows for individual temperature control in each sleeping compartment.

Dining Car: Spacious and modern, the dining car is centrally located within the train to provide easy access for passengers from both ends, fostering a sense of community and interaction.

Four-Berth Sleeper Cars: The beds in these cars are made of high-resilience rubber foam, offering superior comfort, fire resistance, and environmental protection. Each bed is equipped with an individual audio-visual system, allowing passengers to adjust channels and volume to their preference. Each compartment has its own ventilation and air conditioning system, giving passengers the ability to set their desired temperature.

Onboard WiFi: Passengers can stay connected and entertained during their journey, as the train is equipped with WiFi. They can use their personal electronic devices and access the internet for work or leisure. In addition to pre-installed videos and music, similar to those on airplanes, passengers can also watch TV or browse the web.

Bathroom Interiors: The bathroom interiors are made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic, while the exterior panels are made of honeycomb aluminum combined with wood-grain stickers, providing excellent waterproofing and lightweight construction.

Additionally, the handwashing area features sensor-operated faucets, similar to those found in airplane bathrooms. The toilet operates on a vacuum principle, just like on airplanes, ensuring cleanliness and odor control while conserving water, using less than 0.47 liters per flush.

Schedule and Discounts: The SNT6 train departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 10:15 PM and arrives in Nha Trang at 8:05 AM, with stops at Di An, Bien Hoa, Thap Cham, and Nha Trang stations. The SNT3 train leaves Nha Trang at 10:20 PM and reaches Ho Chi Minh City at 9:15 AM, stopping at the same stations.

For the first five pairs of trains in operation, passengers will receive a 5% discount on the current ticket prices. Additionally, the company continues to offer discounts for early booking, round trips, group bookings, and eligible social policy beneficiaries.

Unveiling the Reasons Behind the Five-Year Delay of Jinxin Group’s Luxury Train Cars

The 13 luxury train cars of Jinxin Group, a Chinese conglomerate, intended for the Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang route, have been in Vietnam since 2019 but faced challenges in obtaining the necessary permits for operation.

According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), these train cars feature a completely new design, from the running gear to the body, and as per Vietnamese regulations, they must undergo 100,000 kilometers of trial runs before receiving their registration certificates.

Jinxin Group repeatedly petitioned the Vietnam Railways Corporation for guidance and assistance in overcoming these hurdles to operate the 13 train cars in Vietnam. The group emphasized that the five-year delay in the project had resulted in significant waste and challenges for the company.

In 2019, Jinxin Group partnered with Hanoi Railway Transport JSC for trial runs, but the collaboration ended in 2022 after only 15,000 kilometers. In 2023, the group proposed a commercial trial operation with Saigon Railways, but their request was denied due to a lack of access to the company’s technical documents and the fact that the train cars had not completed the required 100,000-kilometer trial run.

Jinxin Group then requested the Ministry of Transport to amend the circular and reduce the trial run distance from 100,000 to 5,000 kilometers.

Finally, after much effort and collaboration, the 13 luxury train cars of Jinxin Group have been given a new lease of life on the Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang route.

Jinxin Group is one of the largest providers of railway equipment, locomotives, and train cars in China, with over 30 years of experience. Their products have reached ten countries and territories, including the UK, France, the US, Spain, Australia, Malaysia, the Czech Republic, Japan, and Vietnam.

In Vietnam, the Railway Equipment Development Company, a subsidiary of Jinxin Group, was established in 2019 to expand the group’s presence in the local market. Jinxin Vietnam is the first company to invest in the construction of new train cars, taking responsibility for the investment efficiency of the cars in line with the socialization policy to improve the quality of Vietnam’s railway services.