Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Chairman of the State Appraisal Council for the pre-feasibility study report of the high-speed rail project on the North-South axis, speaks at the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy and representatives of ministries, sectors, and localities who are members of the Council.
According to Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, the project to invest in the construction of a high-speed railway on the North-South axis has been approved in principle by the Politburo and the Central Committee of the Party, with a design speed of 350 km/h for passenger transport, meeting the requirements of dual-use for national defense and security, and the possibility of freight transport if needed.
This is an extremely important project for the development of the country, contributing to enhancing the stature and prestige of the nation in the new era. Therefore, ministries and sectors need high determination, great efforts, and decisive actions to implement it.
At the meeting, the Council members focused on discussing and providing opinions on the contents of the pre-feasibility study report of the project, the appraisal results of the appraisal consultant, and the draft appraisal report on the pre-feasibility study report of the project.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, Chairman of the Council, requested the Ministry of Transport to carefully study the appraisal report of the inter-sectoral appraisal team, the appraisal report of the Appraisal Consultant, the opinions of the Council members, and the appraisal opinions of the relevant ministries and sectors to maximize the absorption and urgently complete the pre-feasibility study report of the project.
Regarding the project dossier, based on the Conclusions of the Politburo, the Central Committee, and the Standing Committee of the Government, the Ministry of Transport was requested to review, scrutinize, and supplement the dossier’s contents comprehensively to ensure quality and effectiveness.
Regarding transport demand forecasting, the Chairman of the Council requested a thorough review of the data on transport demand forecasting (passengers and cargo) along the North-South corridor to ensure reliability and alignment with global projects.
Overview of the meeting
Regarding the alignment and station locations, the Council requested strict adherence to the directions of the Standing Committee of the Government, especially the technical aspects of keeping the alignment as straight as possible to reduce costs, particularly in the section passing through Nam Dinh province, ensuring operating speed for trains, creating new development space, and avoiding residential and urban areas. However, there must be suitable connection plans to ensure the shortest possible connection to major airports and seaports, convenient linkage to the East-West corridor, and connection to the railway lines of China, Laos, and Cambodia. At the same time, continue to coordinate with localities where the high-speed railway passes through to review and adjust the alignment and station locations of the project, especially those with advantages in connecting to major transport hubs and economic zones.
Regarding the preliminary total investment, the Chairman of the Council requested a review based on the principle of accuracy and compliance with legal regulations in the pre-feasibility study report stage of the project.
According to the pre-feasibility study report presented at the meeting, the North-South high-speed rail project aims to materialize the orientations and directions of the Party, the Resolutions and Conclusions of the Politburo, and the implementation of master plans. It also aims to enhance regional connectivity, creating new economic development space, restructuring urban areas, redistributing the population, transforming the economic structure, increasing the competitiveness of the economy, meeting transport demands, and contributing to the optimal and sustainable restructuring of the market share of transport on the North-South corridor. It will also create a premise and driving force for socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security.
The project is expected to pass through 20 provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City.
In terms of investment scale, the project involves the construction of a new double-track railway with a standard gauge of 1,435 mm, electrification, a design speed of 350 km/h, and an axle load of 22.5 tons. The length is approximately 1,541 km with 23 passenger stations (one station in each province, except for Ha Tinh, Binh Dinh, and Binh Thuan, which will have two stations each). To ensure national defense, security, and freight transport when needed, five freight stations will be arranged at major freight hubs along the line, facilitating logistics for national defense, security, and international transit.
