Construction of the $11.6 billion Lao Cai-Hai Phong railway to begin in July 2027
The investment project to build the 417 km Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway line will be newly built with a standard gauge of 1,435 mm, electrified, and for general cargo and passenger transport.
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The Railway Project Management Board has just reported to the Ministry of Transport on the status of the preparation of the Pre-Feasibility Study Report for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong Railway Construction Investment Project.
This is a newly built railway line with the goal of connecting with Hai Phong international seaport, connecting with China to implement the "Belt and Road" initiative and the Connectivity Cooperation Plan within the framework of "Two Corridors, One Belt", meeting the need for high-quality, fast, convenient and safe transportation, reducing emissions.
Accordingly, the Railway Project Management Board aims to complete the establishment and internal appraisal of the Pre-Feasibility Study Report by January 2025; submit the Pre-Feasibility Study Report to the Government and the State Appraisal Council for appraisal in February-March 2025; submit the Investment Policy Project to the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee in March-April 2024; and submit the Investment Policy Project to the National Assembly for approval at the 9th session of the 14th National Assembly (May 2025).
In case the competent authority approves the investment policy, the consulting unit will prepare the Project Feasibility Study Report from May 2025, complete the Feasibility Study Report in May 2026; appraise and approve the investment project in September 2026; complete the procedures, sign the Loan Agreement immediately after the project is approved in November 2026; organize construction bidding, prepare procedures to start the project (in July 2027).
It is known that in August 2024, the Prime Minister assigned the 2024 capital plan to prepare for investment in the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project.
Currently, the domestic consultant has coordinated with the Chinese consultant to complete the Pre-Feasibility Study Report; is continuing to develop the mid-term report, expected to be completed in November 2024, and strives to complete the Pre-Feasibility Study Report in December 2024.
The railway project management board has worked with 9/9 localities to seek opinions on the route, location, and scale of the station. Up to now, the localities have basically agreed on the route, scale, and location of the station proposed by the Consultant.
The Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway construction investment project has its starting point at the rail connection point with the Chinese railway in Lao Cai City, Lao Cai Province; its ending point is at Lach Huyen Port, Hai Phong City.
The route is about 417 km long (of which the main route is about 396.67 km long, the 2 branches connecting to Nam Do Son port and Dinh Vu port are about 20.33 km long). The route passes through the territory (9 provinces/cities): Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Hai Phong.
The project aims to build a new grade I railway line according to TCVN 8893:2020, standard gauge 1435mm, electrification, general passenger and cargo transport.
According to the Railway Network Plan, the total investment is expected to be 11.6 billion USD; the preliminary total investment of the Project will be determined in the final report of the Project Pre-Feasibility Study Report. The Project is expected to be divided into 2 phases, in which phase 1: investment in single track and construction of works on the route, complete site clearance, preliminary total investment is about 8.57 billion USD. Phase 2: complete construction of double track and construction of works on the route according to the plan.
Regarding capital, the Project is expected to use ODA/concessional loans from the Chinese Government, counterpart capital from the Vietnamese Government and other legal sources of capital.
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