Research on optimal investment options for the North-South high-speed railway

(Chinhphu.vn) - The Government Office has just issued Notice No. 152/TB-VPCP dated April 9, 2024, concluding the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha - Head of the Steering Committee at the second meeting of the Steering Committee to develop and implement the Project on investment policy for high-speed railway on the North - South axis and important national railway projects.

Investing in high-speed railways to reduce logistics costs and improve economic competitiveness

The announcement stated that in Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW dated February 28, 2023 of the Politburo on the orientation of developing Vietnam's railway transport to 2030, with a vision to 2045, it identified the goal of "developing modern and synchronous railway transport to promote rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, meeting the goal of our country being a developed country with high income by 2045", with the solution of "Researching, analyzing, evaluating carefully, closely, comprehensively, combining international experience to select investment options, technology, techniques, capital... to build modern, synchronous, feasible, effective high-speed railways and urban railways with a long-term strategic vision, promoting the country's advantages and potentials, in line with the world's development trends".

Thus, the implementation of investment in high-speed railway on the North-South axis will create momentum for socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security; an industrialized and modernized country needs to invest in high-speed railway to reduce logistics costs and improve the competitiveness of the economy.

To complete the Project to meet the requirements on quality and progress for submission to the Politburo, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested:

The Ministry of Transport studies, absorbs, and fully and thoroughly explains the opinions of delegates (comments and criticisms of experts and scientists, including those of Professor, Dr. La Ngoc Khue), in which it comprehensively evaluates the following factors: technology, engineering, safety, transport and exploitation organization, transport capacity (goods and passengers) of the railway on the North-South axis (including high-speed railway and existing 1,000mm gauge railway), feasibility, capital mobilization plan, financial efficiency, economic efficiency... to select the optimal scenario.

The implementation plan must ensure uniformity and consistency in design standards, infrastructure, signals, equipment, carriages, locomotives, etc.; For stations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, they need to be located in the center, combined with underground and elevated routes, etc. to ensure convenience for passengers;

Regarding design speed: continue to clarify based on analysis and research on investment, operation, and exploitation of passengers and goods in countries around the world as reported by the Ministry of Transport (clarify standards, transport exploitation organization, and methods of each country); analyze and demonstrate economic and financial efficiency in the case of only transporting passengers, or transporting passengers and goods in combination.

Regarding technology transfer: research and propose to establish a separate project to analyze and select technology transfer partners; select technology receiving organizations to master the technology (establish a new state corporation, assign state-owned enterprises or private enterprises, military units, etc.).

Regarding investment divergence, the Deputy Prime Minister requested to study suitable investment divergence plans, possibly recommending simultaneous and one-time investment to reduce time, costs, etc.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (Standing Agency of the State Appraisal Council) conducts independent research and review to select the optimal option.

Lan Phuong - Government Portal

Source