North-south high-speed railway to have 26 stations

By Doan Loan October 2, 2024 | 11:18 pm PT

Passengers are seen at a station of the north-south railway in Ho Chi Minh City in 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Vietnam's proposed north-south high-speed railway will span 1,541 km, connecting 20 provinces with 26 stations and enhancing transportation efficiency and economic growth across the nation.

According to a consultancy consortium comprising Vietnamese firms TEDI, TRICC and TEDIS, there will be 23 passenger stations in 20 provinces, with 17 having one station each. There will also be five cargo stations, with two of the former also doubling up as cargo stations.

The central Ha Tinh, Binh Dinh and Binh Thuan Provinces will have two passenger stations each.

The five cargo stations will be in Hanoi, the central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Nam (home to Hoi An City), Khanh Hoa (home to Nha Trang City), and Dong Nai Province next to Ho Chi Minh City.

The ones in Hanoi and Ha Tinh will be used for both passengers and cargo.

Ngoc Hoi station in Hanoi's Thanh Tri District and Thu Thiem Station in HCMC’s Thu Duc City will be the northern and southern ends of the line. The consultancy is also considering the option of operating trains to Hanoi station via a metro line.

The distance between stations will be a minimum of around 30 kilometers but not all trains will stop at every station.

The 23 passenger stations planned for Vietnam's high-speed railway. Graphics by TEDI

The location of the high-speed line and stations has been studied to align with local conditions everywhere and development plans.

The stations are strategically placed in local economic and political hubs with easy access to urban centers and areas with potential for new development and land utilization.

Between self-governed cities Hanoi and HCMC, there are 19 urban areas with a population of 500,000 or more and 17 first-class cities, ensuring strong connectivity with public transport and efficient infrastructure utilization.

The railway project is expected to cost $67.34 billion, with funding coming mainly from the government, bonds, contributions from localities, and low-interest loans from domestic sources.

It will be an electrified double track of 1,435 mm gauge, designed for speeds of 350 km per hour.

The Ministry of Transport has announced that the high-speed railway would be developed using domestic funds and technology to ensure better control over construction, technology transfer and long-term operations.