Orientation and practice of railway system development in Vietnam
Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW, dated February 28, 2023, of the Politburo , "On the orientation for the development of Vietnam's railway transport to 2030, with a vision to 2045" and transport planning affirm that railway is a transport sector that needs priority investment. This is a mode of transport with many advantages, such as the ability to transport passengers and goods in large volumes, fast speed, competitive costs, high safety, outstanding advantages in environmental protection, creating a foundation to promote the development of other industries and services, the ability to deeply connect regions and terrains, inter-regional and transnational... With the development requirements in the coming time, focusing on investment in building the railway system, including national railways and urban railways, plays a key role in socio-economic development, connecting regions and areas and strongly promoting the country's integration and international trade.
According to the National Railway Network Development Plan and the urban railway network plans in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, from now until 2035, we must focus on investing in building a railway system with a very large volume (preliminary about 4,000km) (1) . A number of special and specialized railway lines are also being studied for investment to establish and connect the development space of the regions. It can be seen that there is still a lot of work to be done in developing railways in the coming time, with high complexity, many unprecedented tasks, but this is also a great opportunity and condition to test the will, demonstrate the aspiration and mettle, patriotism and national pride, creating momentum for breakthrough changes, comprehensive and sustainable development of the country in the coming time.
Over the past time, the Party and the State have led and directed agencies and organizations in the political system in many aspects: politics, law, technology, economics, diplomacy , administration, mass mobilization, etc. to promote internal resources and mobilize external resources to quickly and effectively deploy transport projects, especially railways. With a high sense of responsibility, the Government, ministries, branches and localities have perfected the system of tools to gradually and effectively carry out this important task.
Resolution No. 55-NQ/TW, dated September 20, 2024, of the Central Executive Committee agreed on the investment policy for the entire high-speed railway project (350km/h) on the North-South axis. The Politburo also concluded on the policy of building this railway in the form of public investment, agreed to supplement appropriate investment forms, and gave opinions on specific and special mechanisms and policies to develop the railway system. The National Assembly has issued 3 resolutions on railways with specific mechanisms and policies. The Government submitted to the National Assembly for approval the Law on Railways (amended), and issued under its authority 2 resolutions on the Plan to implement the work of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line and the high-speed railway on the North-South axis. The Prime Minister also established the Steering Committee for key works and important national railway projects to research, advise, direct, inspect, coordinate and urge relevant ministries, branches and localities to carry out major tasks on railway development. This is an important form of inter-sectoral coordination to research, advise, direct, inspect, coordinate and urge relevant ministries, branches and localities to carry out major tasks on railway development (associated with tasks on planning and developing road traffic infrastructure, seaports, logistics, urban development, industrial production, etc.). Localities also proactively deploy and improve the effectiveness of coordination with central agencies; establish local Steering Committees for site clearance and resettlement. Experience in implementing infrastructure projects shows that site clearance must always be one step ahead, deciding the progress of the project.
Requirements in railway system development
In order to develop a modern and synchronous railway system in accordance with the goals identified by the Politburo, there are many issues that need to be resolved, such as learning from experience, selectively absorbing development models of countries with advanced railway systems; building a system of synchronous and open mechanisms and policies, removing institutional bottlenecks to develop fast, modern and sustainable railway transport; effectively solving planning and technical issues related to regional and local planning, urban planning, large cities, national growth axes; specialized planning of transport and planning of a number of related sectors and fields; approaching, mastering and gradually becoming autonomous in design and construction, materials and technology, training and developing human resources, building a team of enterprises in fields related to railways.
The current practice of the construction sector in Vietnam shows that, in the general technical structure of the railway system, domestic forces can basically undertake the under-rail part (foundation). Other parts, such as locomotives, signaling and control systems, energy systems, etc. need to receive technology transfer and gradually master it. This is closely linked to the maintenance, repair and replacement process during future operations.
In the structure of the country's railway system, the high-speed railway on the North-South axis and urban railway lines are important infrastructure projects, of strategic significance, of the stature of "historical works of dreams", like the backbone "shaping" the long-term, multi-faceted development space of the country. The North-South high-speed railway project was approved by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 172/2024/QH14 for investment policy. According to the pre-feasibility study, this railway line has a length of 1,541km, with an estimated investment capital of about 67 billion USD, to be implemented from 2025 to 2035. The route is expected to have 23 passenger stations and 5 cargo stations associated with 15 new provinces and cities after the rearrangement of provincial-level administrative units. When implemented, this project is expected to create a construction market of about 33.5 billion USD, vehicles and equipment of about 34.1 billion USD (locomotives and rolling stock of about 9.8 billion USD, signal information and other equipment of about 24.3 billion USD). Notably, in addition to the form of public investment, a number of private investors have begun to show interest in proposing to invest in developing this important project in the spirit of Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW, dated May 4, 2025, of the Politburo, "On private economic development" and special corridors on specific mechanisms.
Viewpoints and some solutions in implementing the task of developing the railway system
About the point of view
Currently, the issue of investment in developing the railway system is attracting great attention from public opinion, deeply affecting people's trust and expectations in the new stage of the country.
To ensure effectiveness, persuasion and feasibility, it is necessary to rely on the following viewpoints to solve the problem: 1- Implement the principle of comprehensive Party leadership, fully reflect the will, wishes and aspirations of the people, promote the initiative and unified leadership and management role of the Government in deciding core issues related to the development of the railway system; 2- Building a mechanism for analysis and convincing criticism of major issues, such as the role of the State if the private sector invests, especially in planning and capital support; appraisal and supervision of technology and construction and operation processes; ticket prices and infrastructure maintenance, control of railway monopoly; level of access and autonomy to technology, ability to participate in providing construction services and equipment of domestic enterprises; factors affecting public interests and national security; 3- State agencies need to base their decisions on a full political, legal, scientific and practical basis; 4- Build Mechanism to monitor the commitments of contractors and investors to promptly and effectively adjust unwanted impacts during the investment, construction and operation of strategic routes; 5- High-speed railways and urban railways are projects that require safety in operation, many issues are unprecedented, so it is necessary to selectively learn from the experiences of other countries based on the characteristics and situation of Vietnam.
About some solutions
First , political and legal solutions. It is necessary to report to competent authorities. major and important issues before implementation. In particular, it is necessary to clarify a number of issues, such as the basis for choosing the form of investment (public investment, enterprise investment, public-private partnership investment); commitments that the State can accept if implementing according to the investor or public-private partnership plan; identifying related risks in technical access and coordination, technology reception and transfer, measuring indicators reflecting efficiency (capital sources, cash flow monitoring mechanism, economic efficiency, implementation time, etc.) and feasibility (technology cooperation and transfer, mobilizing construction investment forces, management personnel, exploitation and operation, etc.); risks related to national security, order, social safety, operational safety; people's accessibility related to ticket prices, etc.
From a legal perspective, the role of the State is very important for railway projects, regardless of the form of investment, so it is necessary to continue to specify the provisions of the Railway Law. Localities adjust their local planning and related planning to ensure unity and stability in development space; focus highly on site clearance and resettlement. Implement planning for station areas and connecting traffic (including reserved land areas); design stations to ensure immediate and long-term functions, conveying regional and local cultural characteristics, etc. In reality, the participation of localities in the process of preparing feasibility study reports is meaningful because consultants will have accurate data and plans, limiting editing and adjustments during the implementation process. It is necessary to systematically collect a system of management tools, including planning, future technology trends, norms and standards, norms and unit prices, investment capital rates, project management models, etc. to evaluate, appraise, explain, criticize, and communicate to create consensus. This also opens up an approach to the possibility of localization. some goods, equipment, and services of domestic enterprises.
Regarding the mechanism, policies, and resources to support and focus on developing core businesses in a number of areas of construction, rail, wagon, and signal information production in the entire railway industrial ecosystem. The issue of models, structures of operation, exploitation, and maintenance during the exploitation process after construction investment needs to be carefully evaluated and considered, including the position and role of Vietnam Railway Corporation. Experience from other countries shows that these stages must be proactive from early on, from afar, in order to successfully build, develop, and operate the railway system. In addition, it is necessary to carefully study the subsidy model to ensure the vitality of this type of transport.
Second, solutions on how to solve some major problems. Investing in the construction of railways is a big, new and difficult task, many things are unprecedented, so we have to do it, learn it, and make appropriate adjustments at the same time. Accordingly, it is necessary to direct the implementation of a number of tasks, including: 1- Research, specifically and specifically synthesize the ways of doing things of other countries, from general to specific experiences; issues of norms and standards; processes of accessing and mastering important and core technologies; investment models for construction and operation, maintenance and repair of advanced countries to have convincing arguments in selection; 2- Carry out exchanges and support from experts and experienced organizations; 3- Promote the effectiveness of consultation mechanisms (forums, reputable partners, diplomatic missions, overseas Vietnamese, etc.).
The contractor's and investor's commitments and objectives, if accepted, should be bound by a supervisory committee/council established by the competent authority, operating independently with the main task of supervising the implementation of commitments, detecting and warning of risks, and the right to propose adjustments to related issues, etc. Study the possibility of forming a specialized unit in charge of directing railways, managing and operating independently established by the Government/Prime Minister. The project management model at the Ministry of Construction and localities also needs to be studied and adjusted accordingly.
High-speed railways have complex technical requirements, requiring absolute safety. This requires careful consideration when selecting contractors and a council with sufficient prestige in approving the list of compulsory technology transfers. Carry out assessment, measurement and testing of imported products through reputable units. Have a mechanism to strongly promote the pioneering role of a number of state-owned enterprises and private sector enterprises with potential and experience in the spirit of Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW in providing a number of construction services, materials and equipment on the basis of mastering a number of technologies, thereby creating jobs and making practical contributions to growth.
Research and design stations on railway lines to ensure scale and functionality, meet modern architectural requirements, reflect historical and cultural values, and have a comprehensive and long-term vision. Stations need to be reasonably calculated in terms of location, multi-purpose space for passenger pick-up and drop-off and service (commerce and entertainment, hotels, cultural venues, etc.), parking areas, warehouses, loading and unloading of goods (with freight stations); be open spaces for convenient connection of transport modes and railway types; determine reserved land areas for adjustment and expansion when needed.
The application of the urban development model according to the structure of public transport (TOD) must be associated with the vision of urban planning space; have a more multidimensional approach than simply understanding urban development along the transport structure connecting stations including major goals, such as meeting the requirements of integrating urban functions, creating flexibility in planning and solving challenges, urban inequality, especially congestion, pollution, access to transport, imbalance in housing supply and demand and healthy development of the real estate market. The traffic hub in the TOD model must be a focal point to form a decentralized transport system, synchronously connecting many types and modes of transport. Clearly demonstrate issues of architecture, culture and aesthetics, symbols of the traffic hub.
Third, the solution is related to the authority and responsibility of the relevant subjects. Some issues about authority Railway-related issues need to be reviewed to ensure compliance with regulations, practical persuasion, and the ability to implement quickly, such as appraisal and feedback mechanisms, authorization to implement certain tasks; the right to add stations for areas with high transport demand; division and adjustment of component projects; decentralization and delegation of authority, etc. Continue to enhance the role and operational efficiency of the National Steering Committee.
Localities with railway lines passing through need to focus on: 1- Reviewing, adjusting, and supplementing plans to ensure consistency; implementing, according to authority, tasks on planning locations and areas of stations and vicinity; areas, locations and connecting traffic systems, urban/industrial/logistic development areas,...); Carefully select technical connection options and types of transportation to ensure smooth and effective operation; 2- Propose investment or implement investment according to authority in the transportation system connecting to the station for synchronous exploitation (for example, connecting Hanoi's inner city to the starting point of the North-South high-speed railway line at Ngoc Hoi station area); 3- Pay attention to the construction plan for passenger and cargo stations, works with architectural requirements, technical operation stations to ensure functionality, clear urban development areas, expressing aesthetics, typical cultural elements,... Ministries also need to perform this task because it is related to the national master plan, regional planning, and specialized planning.
Focus on strengthening and improving the capacity of relevant entities, including training and fostering human resources at all levels for state management tasks, construction investment, provision of operation and maintenance services, etc. Harmoniously handle the aspirations for contribution and development of domestic enterprises with potential in a number of fields (Hoa Phat Group, Truong Hai Group Joint Stock Company, Military Industry - Telecommunications Group (Viettel)...) to form joint ventures or establish models for providing railway products and services. Develop a network of railway experts to gain knowledge and share experiences.
Wednesday, Implement systematic, extensive, persuasive and public information and communication to promote positivity, repel bad and toxic information, and take advantage of the selection of investment models or partners in railway technology to distort and break traditional and strategic relationships. Communication issues should focus on railway technology, quality and progress of investment and construction; safety and efficiency in exploitation and operation; the issue of exploitation and use of land resources around station areas; the issue of overall multi-faceted benefits in terms of housing for people, aesthetics, landscape, and promoting local development./.
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(1) Including 1,541km of high-speed railway on the North-South axis; over 400km of Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway; over 410km of urban railway in Hanoi and over 355km in Ho Chi Minh City; about 187km of Hai Phong - Ha Long - Mong Cai route; about 170km of Hanoi - Dong Dang route; over 174km of Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho route,...
Source: https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/kinh-te/-/2018/1134102/phat-trien-he-thong-duong-sat-o-nuoc-ta-trong-thoi-gian-toi.aspx
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