Open door to Vietnam railway connection

Three railway routes connecting China are being studied: Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong, Hanoi - Dong Dang and Ha Long - Mong Cai. If invested, the routes will promote international intermodal transport, expanding the space for economic development.

Waste of time and money due to warped track gauge

At noon on a day in late December 2024, as usual, a convoy of empty train cars from China arrived at Lao Cai station.

International transit train between Vietnam and China.

The previous freight train carrying sulfur arrived at the Shanye International Border Gate Station (China). The handover procedures were completed, and the train would be pulled by a Chinese locomotive to the fertilizer factory in Kaiyuan. The train captain received the empty wagons and pulled them back to Lao Cai station to be transported to Hai Phong port for loading.

Mr. Hoang Dinh Tu, Director of Lao Cai Railway Exploitation Branch informed: The transit train carrying sulfur to the neighboring country just departed from Hai Phong port.

At the port, goods are loaded onto borrowed Chinese wagons, sealed, cleared through customs, and then driven straight to Lao Cai station, where they are cleared through Son Yeu station.

"If the goods are loaded onto a 1,000mm gauge train of Vietnam Railways, they will have to be unloaded at Lao Cai station, then loaded onto a Chinese train to continue. So we have to temporarily "borrow" a train from our friend," said Mr. Tu.

Furthermore, with container ships, the cargo carried by 1,000mm gauge wagons from Vietnam can only go as far as Hekou Bei station. Here, they are transferred to 1,435mm gauge wagons.

Explaining further about this "loading and unloading" work, Mr. Tu said that the Lao Cai - Hanoi railway line currently has a gauge of 1,000mm. Meanwhile, the Chinese railway network has covered the 1,435mm gauge to Hekou Bei station. This is a transit station for goods between 1,435mm gauge trains and 1,000mm gauge trains.

"But the time for "picking up and taking down" is almost over," said Mr. Tu, adding that after the Prime Minister conducted a field survey, he requested ministries, branches and localities to urgently complete the investment project documents for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line with a gauge of 1,435mm, connecting the rails with the Chinese railway.

Transit freight opportunities to Europe

A leader of Vietnam Railway Corporation said that the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway is one of Vietnam's strategic transport routes, connecting the northern border region with the capital Hanoi and Hai Phong port - an important international trade gateway.

A container train to Europe pulled by a Chinese locomotive is about to depart from Dong Dang station to Bang Tuong station.

The route is an important part of the logistics chain from China through Lao Cai border gate, which receives goods from areas such as Kunming (China) for transport to provinces in Vietnam or export via Hai Phong port. Agricultural products and minerals from the northern mountainous region can be easily transported to Hai Phong port for export.

In particular, the new route will open up opportunities for transit cargo transport through China to Europe. Currently, Vietnam's exports to Europe or vice versa travel via the Hanoi - Dong Dang - Bang Tuong route, from there continuing and concentrating on cargo transit hubs in Zhengzhou and Chongqing. From here, goods follow Chinese transit trains to Europe.

However, if the Lao Cai - Ha Khau Bac - Chongqing container train is built to continue to Europe, it will be several hundred kilometers closer.

According to the representative of the consulting consortium leading the project's pre-feasibility report, led by the Transport Engineering Design Corporation (TEDI), the forecasted demand for freight transport on the route by 2035 is 11.5-12 million tons, and by 2050 it is 20.8-21.5 million tons. The demand for passenger transport on the route is also very large, expected to reach 4.2-4.9 million passengers in the period up to 2035.

The formation of central stations along the railway line will also develop urban areas around the station location, redistributing the population and workers living along the route corridor.

Expanding international connectivity towards the sea

Currently, Vietnam Railway is connecting with China Railway through two railway lines Hanoi - Lao Cai, Hanoi - Dong Dang. In which, Hanoi - Dong Dang line has a mixed gauge of 1,000mm and 1,435mm, 1,435mm gauge trains can run from Yen Vien station to Beijing South station.

Cargo ships between the two countries and transit cargo to third countries mainly use this route. The route also connects conveniently with Yen Vien - Hai Phong and Yen Vien - Ha Long routes.

Mr. Pham Duc Khai, Director of Dong Dang Railway Exploitation Branch, said that international freight through the railway border gate is increasing, with an average of 4-6 pairs of export-import trains running every day, with an output of about 35,000 tons/month. Compared to 2023, this year's total output increased by about 50%.

According to Mr. Khai, this route still has a lot of potential for intermodal transport, especially when the Dong Dang station freight yard is completed. Currently, the route is operating only 3 pairs of trains per day and night, while the infrastructure capacity of the route can operate 15 pairs of trains per day and night.

According to the plan, after 2030, a new double-track railway line, 1,435mm gauge, will be built on this corridor to transport goods and passengers.

At the same time, in order to connect international railways towards the sea, in the draft of the adjusted planning of the railway network planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, it is being submitted to all levels for consideration and consultation to propose additional research on investment in the railway connecting Mong Cai (Vietnam) - Dongxing (China).

According to the consultant, the Hai Phong - Mong Cai railway is a strategically located route connecting with China's most dynamic economic development region (Dongxing). The investment in the connection will meet the increasing transportation demand on the international economic corridor linking Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh.

Vietnam Railways Department said it is closely coordinating with China to develop detailed plans for these two routes as a basis for investment.

According to initial research, the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line has a gauge of 1,435mm, a designed speed of 160km/h for passenger trains and 120km/h for freight trains; starting at the Vietnam - China border rail connection point at Lao Cai border gate area, ending at Lach Huyen port station (Hai Phong), passing through 9 provinces/cities with a total length of about 390km.

Phase 1 invests in a single track, 1,435mm gauge, and carries out site clearance (GPMB) for the entire route according to the double track scale with a value of 8.57 billion USD; phase 2 completes construction of the double track.

In the draft adjustment of the Railway Network Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the consultant proposed: Investing in the construction of a new Hanoi - Dong Dang route, with an expected length of 156km, gauge of 1,435mm, investment schedule after 2030. The Ha Long - Mong Cai route is invested in construction with an expected length of 150km, gauge of 1,435mm, investment schedule after 2030.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/rong-cua-ket-noi-duong-sat-viet-trung-192250121095808295.htm