Determined to build high-speed railways, speed up urban railways

Encourage domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to invest and do business in railway transport.

Acknowledging and appreciating the results that the Vietnam Railway Authority has achieved in the past year, Minister Nguyen Van Thang emphasized that the direction and operation work has many innovations, creativity, and focus.

The development and implementation of legal documents and planning have been carried out effectively, notably the development of the Railway Law (amended). Special attention has been paid to planning work, and the Ministry of Transport has advised the Prime Minister to approve plans, policies, solutions and resources to implement the railway network planning.

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang gave a speech at the Conference (Photo: Ta Hai).

Pointing out the challenges in 2024, especially the impact of the decline of major economies and the disruption of supply chains affecting the Vietnamese economy, the Minister said that investment in transport infrastructure is the most important and strategic investment, contributing immediately to GDP growth, creating growth momentum, facilitating regional connectivity, thereby promoting local and regional economic growth, and impacting budget revenue.

"The Ministry of Transport will be assigned many projects. This is a huge task and challenge for agencies and units, especially specialized departments. For the railway sector, according to Conclusion 49 of the Politburo, a lot of resources will be needed for investment, from high-speed railways to horizontal connecting railways.

With the North-South high-speed railway, we must be determined to do it. Urban railways, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, must be done quickly. We cannot let it be like the recent period, when it took more than ten years to complete a line. This is an important task for 2024 and the following years," the Minister emphasized.

The Minister noted that the Vietnam Railway Authority should focus on amending and supplementing the 2017 Railway Law, and at the same time, fully prepare legal documents such as decrees and circulars so that when the law is approved, it can be issued and implemented immediately. Each legal document and each policy after amendment must carefully assess the impact, feasibility and quantify the effectiveness to ensure effective implementation.

At the same time, build mechanisms and policies related to investment, operation and exploitation of high-speed railways and urban railways; encourage and support domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to invest and do business in railway transport.

Develop and implement railway sector plans; continue to focus on completing and submitting to competent authorities 4 technical plans of railway sector; adjust railway network plans; coordinate with localities and specialized departments to implement effective, synchronous and connected plans.

Regarding project development, the Department needs to proactively coordinate with agencies to complete two large and complex projects: the Project on management, use and exploitation of national railway infrastructure and the Project on investment policy for high-speed railway on the North-South axis. Continue to complete the system of standards, technical regulations and norms in the railway sector.

Director of Vietnam Railway Authority Tran Thien Canh pledged to accept the Minister's instructions, unite, be creative, and strive to complete the tasks in 2024 (Photo: Ta Hai).

The Minister also requested the Vietnam Railway Authority to promote negotiations with China to sign a railway transport agreement to replace the border railway agreement signed in 1992; Negotiate a rail connection plan between Lao Cai station and Hekou Bac station (China); Learn from the experience of developed countries in building new high-speed railways; Develop a plan for digital transformation resources and energy conversion in investment and exploitation of railway infrastructure and equipment to meet Vietnam's commitment to combat climate change and its commitment to bring net emissions to zero at COP26.

Regularly and continuously carry out anti-corruption and anti-negativity work, associated with assigned tasks, ensuring public, transparent activities, and compliance with legal regulations; combined with inspection, examination, and propaganda to party members, civil servants, and public employees. Recruitment, training, and planning of cadres and human resources must be public, transparent, and objective, selecting talented people with public service ethics, daring to do, daring to take responsibility, not avoiding work, and being proactive.

"The first quarter of 2024 is the peak period for order and traffic safety associated with the Tet holiday. Therefore, it is recommended that the Vietnam Railway Authority strengthen control and propaganda on safety work, closely coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure smooth operation on railway routes, creating convenience for people to return home for Tet. At the same time, develop a plan to proactively respond to situations to ensure railway safety throughout 2024.

In particular, we must promote the spirit of solidarity. Solidarity between the three railway units: Vietnam Railway Authority, Railway Project Management Board and Vietnam Railway Corporation and solidarity within the Authority, only then can we solve the work, for the common goal," the Minister directed.

Receiving the direction of the Minister, Director of the Vietnam Railway Authority Tran Thien Canh pledged that the Authority will continue to innovate, improve the quality and efficiency of work, improve the professional qualifications and necessary skills of civil servants and public employees to perform the State management function, increasingly better meeting the requirements of the industry's tasks in the new situation.

Removing institutional difficulties, creating favorable conditions for people and businesses

Reporting at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Huy Hien, Deputy Director of Vietnam Railway Authority, said that in 2023, the Authority made efforts to overcome difficulties and complete most aspects of work.

Conference scene (Photo: Ta Hai).

The Department has proactively coordinated well with relevant agencies to develop legal documents (QPPL) to ensure progress and quality; prioritized the removal of difficulties and obstacles, creating favorable conditions for businesses and people. Accordingly, it submitted to competent authorities to issue 7 QPPL documents; organized a conference to summarize 5 years of implementing the 2017 Railway Law and completed the dossier proposing the development of the Railway Law (amended) and submitted to the Government; consolidated 3 QPPL documents; inspected, reviewed, and handled 42 QPPL documents according to authority.

Work on making specialized technical plans, coordinating the development of projects and ensuring quality. Including completing the planning of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong standard gauge railway route; making adjustments to the railway network planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 and 4 specialized technical plans. Coordinate with the Department of Planning and Investment of the Ministry of Transport, the Railway Project Management Board develops a project on investment policy for high-speed railway on the North - South axis.

Railway transport activities have shown positive signs, including proactive coordination to resolve difficulties and obstacles for businesses by state management agencies from the Ministry of Transport to the Vietnam Railway Authority. Accordingly, the number of passengers on trains increased by 135.62% compared to 2022. However, freight transport in terms of tonnage was only 79.45% due to a sharp decrease in market demand.

At the same time, good coordination with Vietnam Railway Corporation and Railway Project Management Board in railway repair projects has helped improve the infrastructure status, reduce the average shaking point, and improve traffic safety. The implementation of Decision No. 358 of the Prime Minister on handling self-opened walkways has been accelerated, in 2023, localities, agencies and organizations have eliminated 184 walkways.

Timely amend, supplement and promulgate basic standards suitable to practical needs in investment and management of existing railway infrastructure...

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/bo-truong-nguyen-van-thang-quyet-tam-lam-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-day-nhanh-duong-sat-do-thi-192240110151629796.htm