Clearing the railway-side coffee street.

Authorities have launched an operation to clear the railway-side coffee shops in Kham Thien to ensure train safety. Violations are being dealt with, while residents and tourists are being reminded to comply with regulations.

Tourists captured the scene of the train passing through the railway-side cafe street from outside the barrier on the morning of July 2nd. Photo: Chau Sa.

Speaking to Tri Thức - Znews , the commander of the Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám Ward Police ( Hanoi ) said that the unit coordinated with Hanoi Railway Station and the Hanoi Railway Team to clear the area of ​​railway-side cafes on Khâm Thiên Street and its surroundings, specifically the section between Hanoi and Giáp Bát.

The campaign aims to restore urban order and ensure safety along the railway corridor, in the context of the continued potential safety risks posed by unauthorized gatherings, photography, and business activities near the tracks.

During the inspection, authorities reviewed, reminded, and dealt with businesses violating regulations, while also educating local residents to comply with regulations regarding the railway safety corridor.

Authorities launched an operation to crack down on the coffee shops along the railway tracks in Kham Thien on November 25th. Photo: Provided by the police .

Representatives from Hanoi Railway Station stated that clearance work is carried out regularly under the direction of the railway industry and the Hanoi People's Committee, in order to ensure absolute safety for train operations on this line.

In the Khâm Thiên railway cafe area, from July to the present, Traffic Police Team No. 4 (Hanoi Police Traffic Department) in coordination with the ward police has inspected and handled 8 cases of violations.

Authorities also persuaded 36 households living around the railway line to sign a commitment not to place tables and chairs or conduct business within the railway safety corridor.

Tourists sat close to the railway tracks, simultaneously filming and taking photos as the train passed by. Photo: Tran Hien.

The traffic police team advises travel agencies and tour operators to instruct tourists to comply with railway safety regulations, and not to allow guests to take photos or stand in the middle of the railway tracks, as this poses a high risk of accidents.

"The encroachment on the railway safety corridor is currently widespread, especially by coffee shops near the tracks. Traffic police and local police continuously patrol, inspect, and handle violations both regularly and unexpectedly," the representative said.

The authorities are expected to continue conducting regular inspections to prevent the recurrence of violations, ensuring the safety of citizens and the operation of trains on the Hanoi - Giap Bat route.

A foreign account posted a video showing a train crashing into and scattering tables and chairs in a cafe on Hanoi's railway line .

In October, a foreign tourist posted a video showing a train running through the railway-side cafe street in Kham Thien, knocking over tables and chairs and causing panic among tourists.

The video, which is over 10 seconds long, shows food stalls with tables and chairs placed right at the edge of the railway tracks. As the train passed, some tables were knocked over. Tourists sitting nearby jumped up, screaming, while many others filmed the incident with their phones.

Over the years, this place has become a popular check-in spot for both domestic and international tourists, offering the unique experience of sitting and drinking coffee right next to the railway tracks, just a few tens of centimeters away from where trains pass.

Authorities conducted a surprise inspection and asked Western tourists to leave the railway-side cafes before the train passed, on the morning of July 2nd. Photo: Chau Sa.

Since June, Hanoi has repeatedly launched campaigns to remind and ask tourists to leave the area around the railway-side coffee shops.

The issue of businesses encroaching on the railway safety corridor has been addressed thoroughly since 2019, but after each inspection, the area quickly resumes operation.

City authorities said they did not deny the street's appeal, but emphasized that tourist attraction could not be a reason to disregard safety.

In March, the Hanoi Department of Tourism requested that tour operators refrain from organizing tours to the railway-side coffee street area to avoid the risk of accidents.

Crowds still flock to the train-side cafe street after the train crash that sent tables and chairs flying. Following the incident where a train crashed into tables and chairs, tourists from both Vietnam and abroad continue to visit the train-side cafe street to experience it.

Source: https://znews.vn/giai-toa-pho-ca-phe-duong-tau-post1605992.html