Vietnam aims to run high-speed rail service by 2045

This goal has been set by the Government in a plan of action on orientations for the country’s rail service development to 2030 with a vision ahead towards 2045, which was issued on October 31.

The Government has assigned the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to draft the project this year which will be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by 2025.

It has assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) to prioritise allocating capital for rail infrastructure projects, including the high-speed route, between 2025 and 2045. 

Furthermore, it has also asked the MPI to review and amend the Investment Law to attract further investment in this key project by encouraging public-private partnerships.

In conclusions made in March, the Political Bureau requested that the North-South high-speed railway project be approved by 2025 and begin construction before 2030. Priority will be given to construction of the Hanoi - Vinh and Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang high-speed railway sections between 2026 and 2030. The entire North-South route is anticipated to come into operation before 2045.

In late 2019, the MoT submitted two options to the Government with regard to developing the North-South high-speed railway route.

The first option will see Vietnam build a double-track railway with a track gauge of 1,435m at a total length of 1,545km for only passenger trains that are designed to run at a maximum speed of 320 km/h. The existing railway route that has a track gauge of 1,000m will be upgraded to transport goods. The total expected investment for this option is about US$58.71 billion.

In the second option, the country will construct a new double-track railway with a track gauge of 1,435m for both passenger and freight trains to run at maximum speeds of 180 km/h and 120 km/h, respectively. The project is likely to cost about US$64.9 billion.

On October 18, the Government Office announced conclusions made by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha who requested that the synchronous and modern development of the North-South high-speed railway occur in accordance with world trends. The route will support trains at a designed speed of 350 km/h and will become the backbone of the national transport system.