North High Speed ​​Railway Project

The Ministry of Transport has proposed investing in a high-speed railway project on the North-South axis, approximately 1,541 km long, double-track, 1,435 mm gauge, electrified; total investment of approximately 67.34 billion USD and expected to be completed in 2035.

The Ministry of Transport announced the investment proposal for the North-South high-speed railway project, approximately 1,541 km long, double-track, 1,435 mm gauge, electrified; total investment of approximately 67.34 billion USD (illustrative photo).

On October 1, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) officially announced the main contents of the project to invest in a high-speed railway on the North-South axis.

The Ministry of Transport said that implementing Conclusion No. 49 dated February 28, 2023 of the Politburo on the orientation for the development of Vietnam's railway transport to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Ministry is submitting to competent authorities the investment policy for a high-speed railway line on the North-South axis (referred to as the Project).

Regarding the project establishment process, over the past 18 years, the Ministry of Transport has carried out many studies with the support of international organizations and consultants, in which the 2010 project Pre-Feasibility Study Report (NCTKT) was approved by the Politburo in terms of investment policy, but has not yet been approved by competent authorities.

Based on Conclusion No. 49, the Ministry of Transport has conducted a thorough and comprehensive study and evaluation, synthesizing experiences in developing high-speed railways in the world. It organized an interdisciplinary working group to survey 6 countries with developed high-speed railway systems in the world.

Receive comments from ministries, branches, the State Appraisal Council, the Central Economic Committee, the National Assembly Committees, the results of the working group of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, comments from professional social organizations, experts, scientists, the Government Standing Committee, and the Government to complete the Project dossier.

From October 2023 to now, the Ministry of Transport has consulted 24 ministries and branches participating in the Steering Committee, Central Party Committees, National Assembly Committees... and received basic consensus and agreement with the proposed plan of the Ministry of Transport...

Up to now, the Government has met and agreed on the investment plan for the high-speed railway line on the North-South axis with a design speed of 350 km/h, ensuring modernity, synchronization, and conformity with the development trend in the world in accordance with Conclusion No. 49.

Investing the entire route in the form of public investment, design speed 350 km/h

According to the Ministry of Transport, on September 18, 2024, the Politburo issued a conclusion on the investment policy of the Project, in which it identified the high-speed railway as a symbolic project with strategic significance, especially important in terms of economy, politics, society, national defense, security and international integration. Agreeing on the investment policy of the high-speed railway on the North-South axis with the investment plan for the entire route in the form of public investment, the design speed is 350 km/h, transporting passengers, meeting the dual-use requirements for national defense and security, and being able to transport goods when necessary. Agreeing on having special mechanisms and policies to mobilize legal resources for implementation, shortening the implementation progress as much as possible.

The 13th Central Executive Committee issued Resolution No. 55 dated September 20, 2024, which determined: agreed on the investment policy for the entire high-speed railway project (350 km/h) on the North-South axis.

Thus, thoroughly implementing the Party's policy, Conclusion No. 49 of the Politburo, and the Government's direction, the project has been seriously, meticulously, comprehensively, cautiously and thoroughly researched over a long period of time with the participation of many experts, scientists, and relevant agencies.

Regarding the proposed plan, the Ministry of Transport said that the investment proposal for the North-South high-speed railway project is about 1,541 km long, double-track, 1,435 mm gauge, electrified; the total investment is about 67.34 billion USD. The investment rate of about 43.7 million USD/km is the average level compared to some countries when converted to the year 2024.

Regarding the expected progress, the Ministry of Transport believes that based on the ability to mobilize resources and the accompanying specific solutions and policies, it recommends investing in the entire route with the expected progress:

Submit to the National Assembly for approval of the investment policy at the 8th Session (October 2024). Bid to select international consultants, conduct surveys, and prepare a Technical Research Report in 2025-2026.

Implement site clearance, bid for contractor selection and start construction at the end of 2027. Strive to complete construction of the entire route by 2035, 10 years earlier than Conclusion No. 49.

The Ministry of Transport proposes to apply the form of public investment, from the central budget arranged in medium-term periods, capital contributed by localities, mobilized capital with low costs and few constraints. During the construction and operation process, businesses will be called upon to invest in service and commercial areas at stations; invest in additional means of exploitation when needed.

According to Laborer

Source: https://tienphong.vn/du-an-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-bac-nam-du-kien-dau-tu-6734-ti-usd-hoan-thanh-nam-2035-post1678134.tpo