The Vietnam Railway Authority is seeking comments on the initial planning report for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh railway route prepared by a domestic consulting consortium.
The railway line is more than 441 km long, planned until 2030 with a vision to 2050, starting from the Hekou railway (China) in Lao Cai, going east through the provinces and cities of Yen Bai , Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong and ending at Cai Lan port (Quang Ninh).
This railway will separate the current Hanoi - Lao Cai and Hanoi - Hai Phong routes; with a standard gauge of 1,435 mm, operating passenger and freight trains with a maximum designed speed of 160 km/h. The route has branch lines to Nam Do Son and Lach Huyen ports, serving freight transport.
On the railway line, there are 56 large bridges with a length of 47.5 km, crossing the Red River, Lo River, Bach Dang River and highways such as Hanoi - Lao Cai, Hanoi - Hai Phong, Hai Phong - Quang Ninh, through national highways and some provincial roads; there are 11 tunnels with a length of about 10 km.
Vietnam-China cargo train at Lao Cai customs control area. Photo: Giang Huy.
The consulting unit also planned 41 stations on the route, of which 10 stations serve both passengers and goods including Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Viet Tri, Vinh Phuc, Vinh Yen, Tam Hop, Bac Hong, Dong Anh, Lac Dao, Hai Duong, the rest only serve cargo or passenger trains. 5 stations at Lach Huyen, Nam Do Son, Nam Dinh Vu, Dinh Vu seaports.
The railway connects other routes such as the Lao Cai section connecting with the Chinese railway, the Hanoi section connecting with national railways and the Hai Phong section connecting with seaports.
After the consultant completes the final report, the planning of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh railway route will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport and competent authorities for consideration.
According to planning consultants, the current East-West national railway has two main routes, Hanoi - Hai Phong and Hanoi - Lao Cai, with a narrow gauge of 1000 mm, with low technical standards and transport capacity, unable to satisfy the increasing demand in the future.
Meanwhile, the East-West railway axis connecting the eastern seaport in Hai Phong to the Northwest region currently accounts for nearly 50% of the passenger and cargo transport volume of the national railway system.
The railway route passes through Hai Phong, with a branch to Lach Huyen port, Nam Do Son. Photo: Tedi
Investment in Lach Huyen international gateway port and the port cluster in Hai Phong - Quang Ninh area, and development of railway transport on the East-West economic corridor "Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh" are considered very necessary. The new railway line will connect with the 1435 mm gauge railway of China's Kunming - Hekou North route through Lao Cai border gate, facilitating the transportation of goods.
In 2019, the China Railway No. 5 Design and Survey Institute (consulting unit) studied the planning of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line, about 388 km long, connecting the Hekou railway (China), passing through 8 provinces and cities of Vietnam. This planning has not yet been approved by competent authorities.
Vnexpress.net
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