Vietnam is pushing to commence construction on its flagship North – South high-speed railway by the end of 2026, with Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh calling for urgent and decisive action to advance the project. In a conclusion issued after a review meeting, Minh highlighted land clearance as a critical bottleneck and instructed relevant agencies to ensure early handover of project land in line with legal requirements. Agencies were also told to coordinate the relocation of technical infrastructure in advance to prevent delays.
The ministry’s planning and finance department has been tasked with completing a report on special policy frameworks, investment models, and investor selection criteria, while the department of construction investment economics and management is leading the development of a detailed implementation schedule to meet the groundbreaking target. Special mechanisms will be applied to accelerate the selection of consultants for the feasibility study. Steering committees will be established for national railway projects, with the North – South high-speed rail committee chaired by Minister Minh and Deputy Minister Bui Xuan Dung as permanent vice chair.
Approved by the National Assembly on November 30, 2024, the 1,541-kilometer railway will connect Ngoc Hoi Station in Hanoi to Thu Thiem Station in Ho Chi Minh City, passing through 15 provinces and cities following recent administrative reorganizations. Designed for speeds up to 350 km/h, the dual-track standard-gauge line will feature 23 passenger stations and five freight stations. While primarily serving passengers, the railway will also support national defense and emergency freight transport. The project will use public investment capital, be implemented in phases, with feasibility studies starting in 2025 and full completion targeted for 2035.
Source: The Investor
