Vietnam railways plans 880-Kms Express line
HANOI - Viet Nam Railway Corporation (VNR) has an ambitious plan to build the country's first-ever 880-km express railway within a five-year period beginning 2010.
The general director of the corporation, Nguyen Huu Bang, said the 880 km express railway would be divided into four routes -- Ha Noi-Vinh (280km), HCM City-Nha Trang (400km), HCM City-Vung Tau City (100km) and Ha Noi-Hai Phong port city (100km).
The construction of the express railway will cost an estimated 30 billion USD.
He said the construction, planned between 2010-2015, was aimed at meet the pressing demand of increasing passenger and cargo transport between big cities including Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Nha Trang and Vung Tau where the economy is developing quickly and where there is a high population density -- more than 90 million people.
This railway will be especially important when the Trans-Asia railway connects with the Vietnamese railway network in the next few years, further increasing the volume of passenger and cargo transport.
Bang said the railway would be 1.435 metre wide, built with concrete ties that will allow trains to travel at an average speed of 160 to 300 km per hour.
He added that VNR would build 780 km of completely new tracks on three of the four routes -- Ha Noi-Vinh City, 280km; HCM City-Nha Trang, 400km; and 100km HCM City-Vung Tau City.
Press Trust of India - July 22, 2006.
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