Encourage reopening of Ho Chi Minh City high-speed train route

On the afternoon of July 11, at a press conference on the economic and social situation in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hai, Deputy Head of the Waterway Traffic Management Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, said that the unit had received information about the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao high-speed train stopping running from July 31 until further notice.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport will work with businesses to encourage the reopening of the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao high-speed ferry route. Photo: MQ

Regarding this issue, Mr. Hai said that the Department of Transport will coordinate with the Ho Chi Minh City Maritime Port Authority to work with businesses to assess the situation; at the same time, find solutions to encourage and mobilize businesses to continue serving people's travel needs at reasonable costs.

Mr. Hai stated that this high-speed train is a form of public transport business, it takes time to create travel habits among people. At the same time, combining it with improving service quality will attract people's support.

With the operating time in the past 2 months, according to Mr. Hai, it is not possible to reflect much on quality and superiority.

According to data from Phu Quoc Expressway Joint Stock Company (the investor of the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao expressway), the number of passengers in May and June fluctuated from 312 - 385 passengers/ship trip.

Of which, from May 15-31, there were 6,550 passengers, an average of 385 passengers/train trip; in June, there were 11,870 passengers, an average of 395 passengers/train trip. In July alone, from July 1-10, there were 3,120 passengers, an average of 312 passengers/train trip.

Passengers on a speedboat from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao. Photo: MQ

The Department of Transport stated that the fixed passenger transport route from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao is the first trial route, so the company's forecast of passenger volume is not accurate. Currently, passenger volume only reaches 30-40% of the operating capacity of the Thang Long ship.

From July onwards, due to unfavorable weather conditions, people rarely choose this route to go to Con Dao, so the number of passengers has decreased significantly. On weekdays, the average is 190 passengers/trip (19% capacity); on Saturdays and Sundays, the average is 650 passengers/trip (65% capacity).

Previously, Phu Quoc Express Joint Stock Company announced the temporary suspension of the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao route and vice versa from July 31 until further notice.

The reason given is that the route's operation in the past has had many shortcomings, affecting tourists' choices.

Specifically, Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port is quite far from Ho Chi Minh City, requiring passengers to transfer from the center; passengers have to pay a fee to get to the port themselves; passengers from Con Dao returning to the city find it difficult to catch a bus at the port to the central districts... These factors have affected the efficiency of passenger transport operations.

Therefore, the unit will temporarily suspend passenger transport on this route to find a more suitable solution in Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/khuyen-khich-mo-lai-tuyen-tau-cao-toc-tphcm-con-dao-192240711175437215.htm