(MPI) - Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on October 14 chaired the state appraisal council meeting to review the pre-feasibility study report of the North - South high-speed railway.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung chairs the state appraisal council meeting to review pre-feasibility study report of North - South high-speed railway. Photo: MPI

Minister Nguyen Chi Dung stated that the project for constructing the North-South high-speed railway has been agreed upon with a design speed of 350 km per for passenger transport, meeting dual-use requirements for defense and security, and capable of transporting goods when necessary.

This project is of particular importance to the country’s development, contributing to enhancing the nation’s stature and wealth in the new era, thus requiring high determination and effort from all ministries and sectors for vigorous implementation, he noted.

According to the study report presenting at the meeting, the North - South high-speed railway aims to materialize the directives and orientations of the Party, resolutions, and conclusions of the Politburo, and to implement master planning. It enhances regional connectivity, growth poles, creating ripple effects, opening new economic development spaces, restructuring urban areas, redistributing the population, and transforming the economic structure.

The project will also increase the competitive capacity of the economy, meeting transportation needs, contributing to the optimal and sustainable restructuring of transportation market shares along the North-South corridor, laying the groundwork and momentum for socio-economic development, ensuring defense and security.

The project is expected to pass through 20 provinces and cities, including: Hanoi, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Regarding the investment scale, the project involves the construction of a new double-track railway, gauge 1.435mm, electrified, with a design speed of 350 km/h, axle load of 22.5 tons; approximately 1,541 km long with 23 passenger stations (one station per province, with Ha Tinh, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan each having two stations). To ensure defense and security services, and goods transportation when needed, five freight stations are planned at major goods hubs, facilitating defense and security logistics and international intermodal transport./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment