CROSS-COUNTRY EXPRESS RAILWAY PLANNED
BYLINE: Yen Dung
BODY:
(SGT-HCMC) Vietnam will have the first north-south express railway in
2020 if the Government approves a master plan on building the modern
train submitted by the Ministry of Communications and Transport.
The master plan submitted last week envisages construction of the
express rail west of the existing National Highway 1A, from Hanoi to
HCMC. The ministry says the express 1.435-meter-wide rail will allow
trains to run at the speed of between 200 to 350 kilometers per hour.
The existing 1-meter-wide rail does not ensure safety for trains to
run at the maximum speed of 120 kilometer per hour, and is not
compatible for linking up to the regional railway system, an official
of the Vietnam Railway Union said.
Therefore, the express rail will be built to correct this and is
expected to make it possible for Vietnam to set up rail linkages with
neighboring countries, thus helping boost transport development and
cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The master plan also envisions the construction of new railway
sections among localities using modern trains. These sections will be
built prior to 2025, and allow for speed of between 160 to 200 kph.
These include the rail section of 160 kilometers from Hanoi to Lang
Son Province bordered by China, and another of 100 kilometers from
Hanoi to Haiphong City.
JOURNAL-CODE: FSGT
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