Ensuring railway safety

In Phu Tho province, the Hanoi-Lao Cai railway line spans approximately 113km, playing a crucial role in passenger and freight transport and socio-economic development. However, because the railway passes through many residential areas and intersects with the road system, the risk of traffic accidents is always present, especially at unauthorized crossings. In response to this reality, the province has implemented a comprehensive set of solutions to ensure railway traffic safety, contributing to accident prevention and raising public awareness of compliance with the law.

In implementing the Prime Minister 's decision on ensuring order in railway safety corridors and definitively addressing unauthorized crossings over railways, the Traffic Safety Committees at all levels, along with functional forces in the province, are stepping up efforts to disseminate railway traffic laws through various forms suitable to each residential area.

Ensuring traffic safety and order at the guarded level crossing at km78+865 on the Hanoi - Lao Cai railway line passing through the province.

Press agencies and local broadcasting systems regularly create special pages and sections to disseminate legal knowledge about railways; warn of accident risks at level crossings; and encourage people not to violate railway safety corridors. At the same time, the police force and local authorities in areas where railways pass through actively promote and encourage people to participate in protecting railway infrastructure; not encroaching on safety corridors; not creating unauthorized crossings over railway tracks; and not throwing rocks at trains or stealing railway materials and equipment.

Alongside public awareness campaigns, traffic police forces have intensified patrols, inspections, and strict enforcement of violations. Since the beginning of the year, traffic police throughout the province have handled over 300 cases of railway safety violations, imposing fines exceeding 110 million VND and temporarily seizing 2 vehicles. The main violations include stopping and parking within level crossing areas; and deliberately crossing level crossings or railway tracks when safety is not ensured.

To protect the railway safety corridor and gradually eliminate dangerous level crossings, the province has closely coordinated with the railway industry to implement many comprehensive solutions.

Comrade Nguyen Van Danh - Chief of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee Office, said: The Provincial Traffic Safety Committee Office, along with relevant agencies and local authorities, coordinated with the Vietnam Railway Department, Vinh Phu Railway Joint Stock Company, and the Ha Lao Railway Exploitation Branch to fence off and remove 21 unauthorized crossings; at the same time, they narrowed and prohibited cars at 16 unauthorized crossings on the Hanoi - Lao Cai railway line section passing through the province. For unauthorized crossings that could not be immediately removed, the relevant agencies have installed warning signs such as "Caution: Train," vehicle restriction signs, and narrowed the crossings according to regulations; and handed over management records for each location to the local authorities for close monitoring and management to prevent the emergence of new unauthorized crossings.

The Department of Construction has also requested the People's Committees of communes and wards with railway lines passing through them to continue maintaining guard posts at unauthorized crossings after the administrative unit reorganization. Local authorities should coordinate with the railway sector to equip guard posts with monitoring equipment, provide professional training, and supply train schedule information to improve traffic safety at these crossings. Currently, the entire province maintains guard posts at 294 unauthorized crossings with high traffic volume and potential safety risks.

Notably, the province is urgently investing in the construction of two parallel roads to the Hanoi-Lao Cai railway line, from Phuc Yen ward to Hac Tri bridge, with a minimum scale meeting the standards of a Class III road in the plains. Upon completion, these roads will significantly contribute to eliminating many unauthorized crossings, gradually ensuring sustainable and long-term railway safety.

Thanks to the decisive involvement of all levels, sectors, and local authorities, railway safety in the province has achieved many positive results. In 2025, the entire province is expected to experience only one railway-related traffic accident, a decrease of two accidents compared to 2024. Notably, since the beginning of this year, no railway traffic accidents have been recorded in the province.

Railway safety is not only the responsibility of the authorities but also requires the collective effort of the entire society. Every citizen needs to raise their awareness of complying with the law, strictly adhering to warning signals when crossing railway tracks; not creating unauthorized crossings; and not violating the railway safety corridor. The consensus and responsibility of the community will contribute to building a safe and civilized transportation environment, reducing accidents, and protecting the lives and property of the people.

Le Oanh

Source: https://baophutho.vn/giu-an-toan-giao-thong-duong-sat-255030.htm