Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has announced that the country aims to construct nine new rail routes, consisting of 2,362 kilometers, by 2030, as a plan to upgrade the current transport network. These projects will require a total of VND 240 trillion (USD 10.3 million) in funding, which will come from both state budgets and private investors.
According to the government’s authorized plan for the 2021-2030 period, the most important route will run from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with a total length of 1,545 kilometers. The Ministry of Transport has proposed to prioritize the construction of two sections: from Hanoi to the central town of Vinh, and from Ho Chi Minh City to the coastal city of Nha Trang. The proposed plan also includes other three routes in the north connecting Hanoi with major cities, one route in the central region, and four routes in the south linking Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta region.
The railway network in Vietnam now comprises 7 routes with a total distance of 2,440 kilometers. It has not been upgraded in decades, and it has lost ground to highways and airplanes, which are chosen for speed and convenience. By 2030, the railway sector aims to convey 11.8 million tons of goods per year and approximately 460 million passengers. The country is expected to have 25 rail routes stretching 6,354 kilometers by 2050.
(Source: Vnexpress)
