Expectations for high-speed rail

The delegation led by Nguyen Minh Son, Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly Economic Committee worked with Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee on the North-South High-Speed Railway Project on November 3. Nguyen Danh Huy, Deputy Minister of Transport and Nguyen Tan Tuan, Deputy Secretary of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also attended the event.

Meeting the development demand

According to the Ministry of Transport, Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee had issued a document reproving the route and location of the railway station and depots. The project runs 130km through the 6 communities of Van Ninh, Ninh Hoa, Nha Trang, Dien Khanh, Cam Lam and Cam Ranh with 1 passenger station in Dien Khanh District; 1 freight station in Ninh Hoa Town; 2 depots in Dien Khanh District and Ninh Hoa Town; 2 maintenance stations in Van Ninh District and Cam Lam District. The station is located in Dien Thanh Commune (Dien Khanh District), 1.5km from National Highway 27C, 11km from Nha Trang City center. The station is expected to be 4.5ha with a 1.6ha square.

Nguyen Minh Son and Nguyen Tan Tuan survey the construction site of Dien Khanh station on November 2.

At the meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tan Tuan said that the High-speed Railway Project is an opportunity for Khanh Hoa to continue developing to become a centrally-run city. According to the investment proposal of the Ministry of Transport, Khanh Hoa has a freight station in Ninh Hoa Town and a passenger station in Dien Khanh District and a potential station in Cam Lam District.

Opening new space

Concluding the working session, Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee Nguyen Minh Son emphasized that the North-South high-speed railway construction investment project promises to add great value to the country's economic development, strengthen regional connectivity, create new development space and contribute to forming industrial parks, urban areas, creating millions of jobs, facilitating travel, reducing logistics costs and increasing the competitiveness of domestic products of the country in general and the provinces and cities with railways passing through in particular.

The Economic Committee will closely coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to continue to research and have official appraisal opinions on this project with approval given to its necessity, political, legal and practical basis.

On November 4, the Standing Committee of the Economic Committee will hold a plenary session on this content; and report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for submission to the National Assembly for approval at the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly.

According to the pre-feasibility study report, the project has a total route length of more than 1,540km running through 20 provinces and cities with 23 passenger stations and 5 freight stations; a designed speed of 350km/hour and a capacity of 22.5 tons/axle. The preliminary land use demand is about 10,827ha with a total capital of about VND1,713,594 billion or USD67.34 billion. 

The project is expected to be approved for investment in the fourth quarter of this year; complete the feasibility study report, design, and select contractors in 2025 - 2026; start construction in 2027; and finish in 2035.

V.K

Translated by N.T