The Vietnam Railway Authority has suggested the Ministry of Transport collect opinions from ministries and sectors to ask the Ministry of Planning and Investment to propose the PM approve the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project, which will use concessional loan provided by the Chinese Government.
This is the first important legal procedure needing to be completed for the project.
According to the Railway Authority’s proposal, this project is set to have its funding sourced from the Export - Import Bank of China (China Eximbank). It will build a 1,435mm-gauge electrified railway connecting with China and the seaport area of northern Hai Phong city.
With a total length of 388.35km, the route will start at the cross-border track junction of Vietnam’s Lao Cai station and China’s Hekou North station, and end at Lach Huyen Port of Hai Phong city.
It will also include a 7.89km branch connecting South Hai Phong and Nam Dinh Vu port in Hai Phong city, and another 2.18km long linking Yen Thuong and Yen Vien stations in Hanoi.
The route will feature 30 stations and traverse nine provinces and cities, namely Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, and Hai Phong.
It is expected to have a designed speed of 160km/h on the main section from Lao Cai station to Lach Huyen Port station, 80km/h on the stretch from Lao Cao to the track junction and branches, and 120km/h on the section through the eastern belt railway in Hanoi.
To ensure investment effectiveness, the project is set to be carried out in two phases. In the first phase until 2030, the entire route with a single-track system will be completed. Meanwhile, a double-track system and the South Hai Phong - Nam Dinh Vu branch will be built in the second phase, after 2050.
This project will need about 211.03 trillion VND (8.69 billion USD) in total investment, comprising 135.6 trillion VND in concessional loan and 75.43 trillion VND in corresponding capital of the Vietnamese Government.
The project will be implemented in around six years since it gains approval and the loan agreement takes effect, said the Railway Authority.
Earlier, PM Pham Minh Chinh requested the Ministry of Transport report the project proposal to the Government and competent agencies in January 2025, submit it to the National Assembly for consideration in February, and ensure related procedures and processes are completed so that construction starts before December 10 this year./.
