Two options for high-speed railway route through Hanoi

Two consulting units proposed two different options for the station and route of the North-South high-speed railway, section through Hanoi .

The Ministry of Transport is consulting the Hanoi People's Committee on the route plan, location and scale of the station and maintenance station of the North-South high-speed railway project, the section passing through Hanoi.

The first option is according to the pre-feasibility report of the high-speed railway project submitted to the Government in 2019. This option applies to high-speed railways carrying only passengers, with a maximum operating speed of about 320 km/h.

The North-South high-speed railway route through Hanoi starts at Ngoc Hoi station complex; passes through the belt and the western belt railway; passes through Thuong Tin and Phu Xuyen districts to the west of the Phap Van - Cau Gie expressway.

After passing the Northwest Expressway connecting with National Highway 5B, the high-speed railway turns left, passes Phap Van Expressway, goes east, along the expressway corridor and enters Ha Nam province.

The starting station is located at Ngoc Hoi station (Lien Ninh commune, Thanh Tri district) and the depot (maintenance and repair area located in Thuong Tin district).

According to the assessment of the Project Consultant, the above plan is consistent with the relevant planning of Hanoi city and the railway network planning, ensuring connection to the route through Ha Nam.

The project consultant proposed that Hanoi maintain the route as agreed with the Ministry of Transport, starting at Ngoc Hoi station. However, the consultant suggested considering operating low-speed trains to Hanoi station (according to the planning, Hanoi station is an urban railway station) to increase the efficiency of the high-speed railway project.

At the same time, the consultant proposed moving the Thuong Tin depot to the Ngoc Hoi complex for convenient ship maintenance and repair.

High-speed passenger train in Europe. Photo: Anh Duy

The second option proposed by the High-Speed Railway Project Appraisal Consultant aims to study the addition of a high-speed railway line to operate both freight and passenger trains, with a design speed of 200 km/h - 250 km/h.

Accordingly, from Ngoc Hoi station, the North-South high-speed railway, when reaching the route connecting the Northwest Expressway with National Highway 5B, will go straight to Ha Nam province.

The consultant examined the proposal for Ngoc Hoi main station (Lien Ninh commune, Thanh Tri district) and Ngoc Hoi 2 station (Phuong Duc commune, Phu Xuyen district) to connect to Hanoi's second airport in the future, and at the same time integrate the passenger and cargo stations to connect the northern logistics system.

However, the project consultant said that this option is "ineffective and increases investment costs". The location of Hanoi's second airport has not been specifically determined in the Master Plan for the development of the national airport and seaport system, so the connection via Ngoc Hoi 2 terminal is not feasible.

After receiving Hanoi's opinions on the route plan and station locations, the Ministry will complete the Project on investment policy for the high-speed railway on the North-South axis, expected to be submitted to the Government in September, and the investment policy will be approved before 2025.

The State Appraisal Council has signed a contract with an independent consulting consortium to evaluate the project. The appraisal unit pointed out a number of disadvantages when investing in a 350 km/h high-speed railway and recommended studying the option of a railway that can carry both passengers and freight with a design speed of 250 km/h and a maximum operating speed of 225 km/h.

vnexpress.net