Prime Minister: Build the North-South high-speed railway along the shortest route, speed 350km/h

The goal and requirement is to complete the North-South high-speed railway length of about 1,541km through 20 provinces and cities. The implementation time is about 10 years, striving to complete by 2035.

The Prime Minister chairs a meeting of the Government Standing Committee on the investment policy for the high-speed railway on the North-South axis - Photo: VGP

On the morning of July 11, the Government Standing Committee chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met on the investment policy for the high-speed railway on the North-South axis.

Comprehensive logistics development with high-speed railway

After listening to the reports and conclusions of the meeting from leaders of relevant ministries, branches and units, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the investment in the North-South high-speed railway is based on political and legal grounds.

These are Resolution 49 of the Politburo on the orientation of developing Vietnam's railway transport; Resolution 103 of the National Assembly on the socio-economic development plan for 2024.

In particular, it is required to study and effectively implement Conclusion No. 49 of the Politburo, accelerate the construction progress of a number of important national railway lines, the East-West railway line; study and complete the Project on the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis, and strive to approve the project investment policy as soon as possible in 2024.

In addition, the practical basis is the huge demand for transportation. The country stretches from North to South, while the transportation infrastructure is not yet developed. Logistics costs are still high, accounting for about 17-18%, compared to the current world rate of about 10-11%.

This reality makes the cost of goods high and competitiveness limited. Therefore, it is necessary to develop comprehensive logistics, choosing optimal solutions, including high-speed railway solutions.

To implement the conclusions of the Politburo and the resolution of the National Assembly, under the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Transport focuses on developing a project to invest in a high-speed railway on the North-South axis to submit to competent authorities.

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Ministry of Transport to continue researching, supplementing, clarifying further, and being more convincing.

Accordingly, the goal and requirement is to complete a high-speed railway length of about 1,541km through 20 provinces and cities. The implementation time is about 10 years, striving to complete by 2035.

Diversifying capital sources ensures efficiency

Regarding solutions to achieve the above goal, the Prime Minister requested to study the most favorable, shortest, and most effective route, "building bridges across rivers, digging tunnels across mountains, and building foundations across fields"; choosing a design speed of about 350km/h.

Regarding transportation functions, there are currently 3 road routes on the North-South traffic axis (including National Highway 1, Ho Chi Minh Road, and an expressway under construction), along with sea, air, and rail routes.

Therefore, he suggested that it is necessary to study the construction of high-speed railways with appropriate functions to promote the complementary strengths of different types of transport. Research should be focused on passenger transport, combining fast freight transport and serving national defense and security when needed, while continuing to renovate and upgrade existing railways to transport goods.

The Head of Government requested a thorough study of the total investment to ensure appropriateness (note that it should be compared to high-speed railways of other countries at similar speeds and scales and take into account Vietnam's terrain and geological factors).

Calculate the ability to recover capital, evaluate socio-economic efficiency, financial efficiency, transportation efficiency, logistics, total efficiency, direct and indirect... From there, research mechanisms and policies to mobilize capital sources in different ways, diversify capital sources (central capital, local capital, loans, bond issuance, corporate capital...).

The Prime Minister also noted the need for a smart, modern, and digitalized management organization plan (including transport business management and infrastructure management); human resource training, technology transfer, and ecosystem formation to develop the railway industry as required in Resolution 49 with appropriate steps and roadmap.

The Prime Minister requested Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to continue to directly direct, and the Ministry of Transport to supplement, clarify and convince the above contents.

Incorporate comments at the meeting, continue to complete the project and accompanying documents and drafts on the basis of closely following Resolution 49 of the Politburo and Resolution 103 of the National Assembly to report to the Government at the upcoming meeting, and submit to competent authorities for consideration and decision.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thu-tuong-lam-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-bac-nam-theo-huong-tuyen-ngan-nhat-toc-do-350-km-h-2024071112005801.htm