At the legislature’s ongoing 8th session in Hanoi, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang presented the proposal on behalf of the Prime Minister, saying that the goal of the investment is to build a high-speed railway to meet transport demand, contribute to sustainably restructuring the transport market along the North-South corridor, and lay the foundation for socio-economic development while ensuring national defense and security.
The new dual-track railway will have a gauge of 1,435 mm, a load capacity of 22.5 tons per axle, and will be electrified and designed for a speed of 350 kph. The main line will be approximately 1,541 kilometers long, with 23 passenger and five freight stations.
Thang said that the principle for selecting stations is that they must align with the current conditions and development plans of localities, especially in areas with sufficiently large transport demand.
Regarding the project timeline, the minister said that the preparation and approval of the feasibility study report and front end engineering design are scheduled to be completed in 2025-2026. Land clearance, contractor selection through bidding, and project groundbreaking are planned for 2027, with the goal of completing the entire railway by 2035.
The estimated payback period for the investment is approximately 33.61 years, the minister added.