Vietnam halts trains on Long Bien Bridge after structural failure
VOV.VN - Vietnam’s railway authorities have temporarily suspended train services across Hanoi’s Long Bien Bridge after a steel connection plate in the bridge’s structure fractured, raising safety concerns on the 124-year-old landmark.
According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), the damage was discovered at around 6:15 p.m. on February 2 during a routine inspection. The fractured steel plate was found at a joint connecting the upper chord, diagonal and vertical members of the steel truss at Span No. 18 of the bridge.
The failure posed a direct risk to the structural safety of the bridge and trains operating across it, prompting an immediate suspension of rail traffic between Hanoi Station and Gia Lam Station.
As a result, all passenger trains on the Hanoi–Hai Phong route have been rerouted to depart from and terminate at Gia Lam Station instead of central Hanoi.
Meanwhile, passenger trains on the Hanoi–Lao Cai route and all freight trains heading to northern provinces are being diverted via an alternative southern route through Van Dien, Ha Dong, Thang Long Bridge and Dong Anh.
Repair work is currently underway at the damaged section, where temporary support pillars have been installed and the fractured steel plate is being replaced. Vietnam Railways said repairs are expected to be completed by February 11.
Train services across Long Bien Bridge will only resume after load testing confirms that safety and technical standards are fully met, the operator said.
Nguyen Quoc Vuong, deputy general director of Vietnam Railways Corporation, said the bridge, which has undergone multiple repairs over the decades, continues to face significant structural challenges due to its age and war-related damage.
Many steel components have suffered corrosion and wear, creating latent risks that are difficult to predict, Vuong said. For safety reasons, trains have been restricted to a maximum speed of 15 km/h when crossing the bridge for many years.
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