Businesses are happy because the railway border gate goes deep into the interior.

If the international railway connection through 5 main routes is implemented soon, it will help businesses reduce costs greatly.

Save time, save money

More than 500 tons of cassava starch have just completed customs procedures and been loaded onto a train from Song Than station (Binh Duong) to Zhengzhou (China). Previously, Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) inaugurated international transit operations at Kep station (Lang Giang district, Bac Giang).

Vietnam - Kazakhstan international container train.

"Railway transport in general and international rail transport between Vietnam and China in particular are changing very positively," said VNR Chairman Dang Sy Manh, adding that the Ministry of Transport is currently implementing projects to upgrade and renovate Song Than station.

It is expected that in the period of 2025 - 2030, Song Than station's capacity will reach 3.5 million tons/year and become the largest cargo terminal in the Vietnam railway station system.

"Song Than station joining the international transport track is an important premise for VNR to realize the goal of bringing the railway border gate deep into the interior," Mr. Manh affirmed.

The director of a logistics service business in Binh Duong excitedly said: The demand for two-way import and export of goods is very high. This railway line brings great competitiveness to Binh Duong in particular as well as localities in the region in general such as Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City.

"Previously, goods exported to China had to be transported by road and cleared through customs at Yen Vien station, Dong Dang border gate, Lang Son. Now it is completely possible to do export procedures in Binh Duong, shortening time, costs and reducing the burden on roads," he said, adding that a container of goods transported by road from the South to the northern border costs at least 80 million VND.

If you go by train, this number drops to less than 60 million VND. That is not to mention the savings from tolls and driver fees. In addition, the transportation time is also reduced by about 1/3 compared to going by road.

What international rail connections will there be?

A representative of the Institute of Transport Strategy and Development said that the growth rate of international intermodal freight transport by rail is on average 6%/year. The forecast for international intermodal rail transport volume by 2030 is about 4 - 5 million tons/year.

Container train at Yen Vien international transit station.

Realizing this great opportunity, the railway industry is striving to complete railway lines connecting rails with railways in other countries or heading out to sea, facilitating cooperation in international freight transport.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Thinh, Head of Planning and Finance Department, Vietnam Railway Authority said that currently, Vietnam railway has just connected its rails with China railway and through China, goods are transported by rail to Central Asian countries, from there to Europe and the Middle East.

Vietnamese trains can go to China through two border stations: Lao Cai Station on the Hanoi - Lao Cai route and Dong Dang Station on the Hanoi - Dong Dang route (Lang Son province).

However, only the Yen Vien - Dong Dang route can run 1,435mm gauge trains to connect to other countries' railways. The Hanoi - Lao Cai route still has to transfer goods from 1,000mm gauge wagons of Vietnam Railways to 1,435mm gauge wagons of China, leading to additional operations and costs.

The national railway network planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, has oriented to connect rails with railways in regional countries through 5 main routes.

Accordingly, the Vietnamese railway network connects across Asia, connecting Asia - Europe through the Chinese railway at the border gates of Dong Dang (Lang Son) and Lao Cai; Connecting with the ASEAN railway through Laos (at Mu Gia, Lao Bao), through Cambodia (at Loc Ninh).

Specifically, connecting with Chinese railways through 2 existing routes: Hanoi - Dong Dang with dual gauge (1,000mm and 1,435mm), Nanning - Bang Tuong with standard gauge 1,435mm; Hanoi - Lao Cai route with narrow gauge 1,000mm, connecting with Kunming - Hekou railway with standard gauge 1,435mm.

Vietnam will research and invest in building two new 1,435mm standard gauge railway lines: Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh and Hanoi - Lang Son.

Connecting to Lao railway via two newly built routes: Vung Ang - Tan Ap - Mu Gia route, about 103km long, 1,435mm gauge, connecting Cha Lo border gate in Quang Binh province with Tha Khek of Laos, investment orientation before 2030; My Thuy - Dong Ha - Lao Bao route, about 114km long, 1,435mm gauge, connecting Lao Bao border gate in Quang Tri province with Savannakhet of Laos; investment orientation after 2030.

To connect with Cambodia's railway, we plan to build a new Ho Chi Minh City - Loc Ninh line about 128km long, 1,435mm gauge, connecting Hoa Lu border gate in Binh Phuoc province (or Moc Bai border gate in Tay Ninh province) with Cambodia; investment orientation before 2030.

Mr. Nguyen Khanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Railway Project Management Board, said that the Vung Ang - Tan Ap - Mu Gia route has completed the feasibility study and has been included in the list of national projects calling for foreign investment under the PPP form.

Recently, the Ministry of Transport has approved the consortium of Lao Petroleum Trading Company - Deo Ca Group Joint Stock Company as the investor proposing the project to conduct a pre-feasibility study report under the PPP method.

Bien Hoa - Vung Tau route is currently preparing a pre-feasibility study report. Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh route has recently completed its initial planning study report, proposing to connect with Lach Huyen port and Cai Lan port. Accordingly, the proposed total route length is 441km, standard gauge 1,435mm, design speed 160km/h.

"According to the plan, international railway connection projects are important national projects, prioritized for investment in the 2021-2030 period, so it is necessary to allocate capital for research and early investment implementation," said Mr. Tung.

According to transport expert Nguyen An, international connections, especially seaport connections such as Hanoi - Hai Phong, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, are a boost, creating favorable conditions for railway transport to promote the advantages of heavy, large-volume, long-distance transport, reducing pressure on road transport.

For routes that have been studied such as Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, investment needs to be implemented early. For routes that are being planned and studied such as Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh, it is necessary to clarify the financial issues and investment efficiency. However, it is necessary to plan and invest in the railway network in Lach Huyen seaport in advance, connecting the wharf, so that when the route is implemented, it can be connected and exploited immediately.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/dua-cua-khau-duong-sat-vao-sau-noi-dia-192231107153522197.htm