Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting of the Government Standing Committee on the North-South High-Speed Railway Project.

On the morning of October 5, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting of the Government Standing Committee with relevant ministries, branches and agencies to discuss and give opinions on the investment policy of the North-South High-Speed Railway Project and the implementation status of railway projects connecting with China.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Also attending were Politburo members: Nguyen Hoa Binh, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister; Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense; Luong Tam Quang, Minister of Public Security; Party Central Committee members, Deputy Prime Ministers: Tran Hong Ha, Le Thanh Long and Ho Duc Phoc.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the Project high speed rail on the north-south axis and railway projects connecting with China are of great significance to the development of our country. The Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Transport to prepare a report to the Politburo and the Party Central Committee. At the recent 10th Central Conference, the Central Executive Committee agreed on the policy on building a high-speed railway project on the north-south axis. This is a big deal, the Central Committee has given the policy, we continue to prepare a report to the National Assembly. Therefore, the Government Standing Committee met with relevant ministries and branches to discuss this issue, continue to prepare the project well to report to the National Assembly; continue to carry out research work on railway projects connecting with China to report to competent authorities. These are big and important matters.

We also need to prepare resources and other necessary conditions. The Government Standing Committee needs to have unity and consensus, especially in how to mobilize resources and implement. The issue is that determination must be high, efforts must be great, actions must be drastic, and the assignment must be "clear about people, clear about work, clear about responsibilities, clear about implementation time, clear about effectiveness, clear about products". In particular, it is necessary to clarify about resource mobilization and progress. We "only discuss doing, not discuss backing down"; the process must submit procedures in the correct order according to the provisions of law.

Government members, leaders of ministries and branches attended the meeting. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

* According to the Ministry of Transport, the North-South high-speed railway project has been actively studied by the Ministry of Transport and other ministries, departments and branches, and models from 22 countries and territories have been referenced, and lessons learned from 6 countries that own and master high-speed railway technology.

On that basis, the proposal of the North-South high-speed railway line with a length of 1,541km, double-track scale, 1,435mm gauge, electrification, infrastructure designed with a speed of 350km/h, arranging 23 passenger stations with an average distance of about 67km, 5 freight stations connected to freight hubs. The line will start from Ngoc Hoi station, Hanoi, pass through 20 provinces and cities and end at Thu Thiem station, Ho Chi Minh City.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung speaks at the meeting. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Through reviewing the investment plan, preliminary information on technology, techniques, investment scale, and referring to investment rates of high-speed railway projects that have been and are being implemented in the world, the Consultant prepared a pre-feasibility study report with preliminary calculations to determine the total investment of the project at about 67.34 billion USD.

Leaders of the Ministry of Transport report at the meeting. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

The Ministry of Transport aims to submit the investment policy to the National Assembly for approval at the October 2024 session; bid to select international consultants, conduct surveys, and prepare a pre-feasibility study report in 2025-2026; carry out site clearance, bid to select contractors, and start construction of component projects on the Hanoi-Vinh and Nha Trang-Ho Chi Minh City sections by the end of 2027; start construction of component projects on the Vinh-Nha Trang section in 2028-2029 and strive to complete investment in the entire route by 2035.

Also according to the Ministry of Transport, relevant ministries and agencies are actively developing projects focusing on promoting cooperation in implementing three railway routes connecting Vietnam and China, including: Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong; Lang Son-Hanoi; Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong.

Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway : approximately 380km long, starting point at Lao Cai (the rail connecting point between Vietnam and China), ending point at Lach Huyen port; connecting Hanoi Capital Region with Hai Phong international seaport, connecting international transit with China via Lao Cai international border gate. Expected scale: 1435mm gauge, electrification, passenger and cargo transport, passenger train speed 160km/h, cargo train speed about 120km/h; total estimated investment of approximately 11.6 billion USD.

Hanoi-Dong Dang railway : length of about 156km; starting point at Dong Dang border gate, ending point at Yen Vien station; connecting Hanoi capital with some northeastern provinces (Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Lang Son) and international transit connection with China via Dong Dang international railway transit border gate. Estimated investment scale: 1435mm gauge, electrification, passenger and cargo transport, passenger train speed 160km/h, cargo train speed about 120km/h; total estimated investment of about 6 billion USD.

Hai Phong-Ha Long-Mong Cai railway : approximately 187km long, part of the Quang Ninh-Hai Phong-Thai Binh-Nam Dinh railway; starting point at Nam Dinh Vu station (Hai An ward, Hai Phong city), ending point at the rail junction near Bac Luan bridge (the specific location of the rail junction will be determined by the Ministry of Transport in the coming time in coordination with the Chinese side during the detailed planning process). The route connects the northern coastal provinces and connects international intermodal transport with China through Mong Cai international border gate. Estimated investment scale: 1435mm gauge, electrification, passenger and freight transport, passenger train speed 160km/h, freight train speed about 120km/h; total estimated investment of approximately 7 billion USD.

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