Context

The Vietnamese railway network is in dire state. While responsible for a bulk of the overland transport duties, the single line running from Hanoi to HCMC has not seen any major renovations since its construction by the French colonial regime over a century ago. While there were plans for a modernization of the railway network through the construction of a parallel high speed rail line, this was put on hold due to multiple reasons, most controversial of which was due to the former Minister of Transportation Dinh La Thang got arrested over corruption charges.

However, after geographical and topographical surveys as well as a reevaluation of the economic feasibility of the line, as well as the go-ahead for the Ho Chi Minh City–Cần Thơ Express Railway being half funded by a Canadian private firm, the National Assembly in an unanimous vote have given the go-ahead for the North-South Express Railway project.

Planning

The revised NSER runs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, linking with the under-construction Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho highspeed railway, with Hanoi also linking with Hai Phong. The high-speed rail will be a double-tracked, standard gauge line for speeds of around 300 kph. The actual NSER line will run independently of the original North South railway, however the NSER project also includes modernization of the existing rail network, including a total safety overhaul of the line, as well as reconfiguring it for speeds of up to 90 kph, double what is currently available, as an interim stand-in before the NSER is completed.

The revised NSER aims for a highly ambitious timetable, divided into 4 segments. The 295 km Hanoi to Vinh segment, which is aiming at a 2024 commissioning date, the 364 km Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang segment, aiming at a 2025 commissioning date, the 107 km Hanoi to Hai Phong segment, aiming at a 2023 commissioning date, with the 896 km Vinh to Nha Trang segment to be commissioned by 2027. At a total cost of around $64.8 billion, it is hoped that at least part of the cost could be paid for through foreign aid or investments. Chinese and Japanese firms are approached.