North-South Express Railway (Vietnam)
Encyclopedia
North-South Express Railway is a proposed express railway in Vietnam
. The line would begin in Hanoi
, crossing provinces and municipalities
of Hà Nội, Hà Tây, Hà Nam, Ninh Bình
, Thanh Hoá
, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh
, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị
, Thừa Thiên-Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên, Khánh Hoà
, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Đồng Nai, and Bình Dương, coming to an end in Ho Chi Minh City
.
The total proposed length would be 1570 kilometres (975.6 mi), compared with the 1729 kilometres (1,074.4 mi) long old line. The cost of the line is estimated at US$
55.85 billion, to be funded by official development assistance
from Japan
and by the Vietnamese government itself.
With preliminary topographical
and geological
surveillance already carried out by a joint Japanese-Vietnamese team, two sections of the railway—the 295 kilometres (183.3 mi) Hanoi
–Vinh
section and the 362 kilometres (224.9 mi) Ho Chi Minh City
–Nha Trang
section—were initially slated for implementation in stages between 2011 and 2015, with the implementation of the remaining Vinh–Nha Trang section starting in 2020. Japanese Shinkansen
bullet train technology was proposed for use on this line; its technology—and its actual geographical track—would be completely independent of the existing North–South Railway
line. The express line would be built as a double-track standard gauge
line, with a design speed of 300 km/h (compared to an average of 50 kilometres per hour (31.1 mph) on the existing North–South Railway line). Once completed, passengers travelling between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City would see transit times reduced from 32 hours to around 7 hours.
The Japanese government has, following the visit of Prime Minister
Nguyễn Tấn Dũng to Japan in 2006, pledged to offer official development assistance
for the project. The memorandum of understanding
for the project (along with a related project, the North-South Expressway
) was mutually signed by the two governments at that time.
rejected the current high-speed rail
proposal, reportedly due to the US$56 billion cost involved. National Assembly deputy Nguyễn Minh Thuyết
reportedly stated that the proposed cost was equal to about 50 per cent of the country's gross domestic product
, and that ordinary Vietnamese would not be able to afford the fares. Senior economist Pham Chi Lan, who described the proposal as "economically unsound", noted that it would not serve the majority of Vietnamese citizens, 70 per cent of whom live in rural areas. National Assembly members are said to have asked for further study of the project. As late as August 2010, the Ministry of Transport confirmed that plans for the express railway were on hold pending further research. At that time, Nguyen Huu Bang, chairman and CEO of national railway company Vietnam Railways
, stated that the government was expected to resubmit the project after new leaders of the Communist Party are selected in 2011, and that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would likely be asked to examine the feasibility of two priority sections from Hanoi to Vinh and from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang. After a meeting with the Ministry of Transport in October 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai was reported to have authorized the reception of Japanese technical assistance for those two sections.
Shuji Eguchi, a director at the Japanese Transport Ministry's railway bureau, noted that the Japanese government has recently put more focus on exporting Japanese infrastructure systems such as the shinkansen to jump-start economic growth, but that the Vietnamese express railway project is considered a long-term one. In an August 2010 interview, Eguchi was quoted as saying "We need a step-by-step approach. The conventional Vietnamese railway is single track and not electrified yet ... To jump from that stage to the shinkansen, Vietnam needs to train personnel and enact necessary legislation."
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The line would begin in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, crossing provinces and municipalities
Provinces of Vietnam
Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces and five centrally governed cities existing at the same level as provinces ....
of Hà Nội, Hà Tây, Hà Nam, Ninh Bình
Ninh Bình
Ninh Bình is a city in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. It is the capital of Ninh Binh province.-Geography:Ninh Binh city located in the southernmost plains north Vietnam...
, Thanh Hoá
Thanh Hóa
Thanh Hóa is the capital city of Vietnam's Thanh Hoa province. The population is nearly 200,000 with an area of only 57.9 square kilometers....
, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh
Ha Tinh
Hà Tĩnh is a city in Vietnam. It is the capital of the Ha Tinh province, in Vietnam's north central coast....
, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị
Quang Tri
Quảng Trị is a town district of Quang Tri province in the North Central Coastal region of Vietnam. Significantly, it was the only South Vietnamese provincial capital to be captured by the North Vietnamese forces for a limited period in the 1972 offensive....
, Thừa Thiên-Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên, Khánh Hoà
Khánh Hòa
Khánh Hòa may refer to a number of places in Vietnam:*Khanh Hoa Province*Khánh Hòa, An Giang - a commune of An Giang Province...
, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Đồng Nai, and Bình Dương, coming to an end in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
.
The total proposed length would be 1570 kilometres (975.6 mi), compared with the 1729 kilometres (1,074.4 mi) long old line. The cost of the line is estimated at US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
55.85 billion, to be funded by official development assistance
Official development assistance
Official development assistance is a term compiled by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to measure aid. The DAC first compiled the term in 1969. It is widely used by academics and journalists as a convenient indicator of...
from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and by the Vietnamese government itself.
Overview
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
and geological
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
surveillance already carried out by a joint Japanese-Vietnamese team, two sections of the railway—the 295 kilometres (183.3 mi) Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
–Vinh
Vinh
Vinh is a city in Vietnam. It is located in the northern half of the country, and is the capital of Nghệ An Province. Politically, Vinh is a municipality within Nghệ An Province. On September 5th, 2008, it was upgraded from Grade-II city to Grade-I city, the fourth Grade-I city of Vietnam after...
section and the 362 kilometres (224.9 mi) Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
–Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
section—were initially slated for implementation in stages between 2011 and 2015, with the implementation of the remaining Vinh–Nha Trang section starting in 2020. Japanese Shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
bullet train technology was proposed for use on this line; its technology—and its actual geographical track—would be completely independent of the existing North–South Railway
North-South Railway, Vietnam
The Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge...
line. The express line would be built as a double-track standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
line, with a design speed of 300 km/h (compared to an average of 50 kilometres per hour (31.1 mph) on the existing North–South Railway line). Once completed, passengers travelling between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City would see transit times reduced from 32 hours to around 7 hours.
The Japanese government has, following the visit of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Vietnam
-Office:The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the head of the executive branch of the Vietnamese government. The Prime Minister presides over the Vietnamese cabinet, and is responsible for appointing and supervising ministers...
Nguyễn Tấn Dũng to Japan in 2006, pledged to offer official development assistance
Official development assistance
Official development assistance is a term compiled by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to measure aid. The DAC first compiled the term in 1969. It is widely used by academics and journalists as a convenient indicator of...
for the project. The memorandum of understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
for the project (along with a related project, the North-South Expressway
North-South Expressway, Vietnam
North–South Expressway is the most common name referring to a planned Vietnamese expressway located very close to National Highway, running from Hanoi to Can Tho. The express way will be 1,941 km long, running from Can Tho with total cost estimate of VND 350 trillion...
) was mutually signed by the two governments at that time.
Project re-evaluation (2010)
On June 19, 2010, after a month of deliberation, Vietnam's National AssemblyNational Assembly of Vietnam
The Constitution of Vietnam recognizes the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as "the highest organ of state power." The National Assembly, a 493-member unicameral body elected to a five-year term, meets twice a year...
rejected the current high-speed rail
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
proposal, reportedly due to the US$56 billion cost involved. National Assembly deputy Nguyễn Minh Thuyết
Nguyễn Minh Thuyết
Nguyễn Minh Thuyết is a Vietnamese legislator, serving since the Eleventh National Assembly from 2002 to 2007 and was reelected in the Twelfth National Assembly which will last until 2012....
reportedly stated that the proposed cost was equal to about 50 per cent of the country's gross domestic product
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
, and that ordinary Vietnamese would not be able to afford the fares. Senior economist Pham Chi Lan, who described the proposal as "economically unsound", noted that it would not serve the majority of Vietnamese citizens, 70 per cent of whom live in rural areas. National Assembly members are said to have asked for further study of the project. As late as August 2010, the Ministry of Transport confirmed that plans for the express railway were on hold pending further research. At that time, Nguyen Huu Bang, chairman and CEO of national railway company Vietnam Railways
Vietnam Railways
The railway system in Vietnam is operated by the state-owned Vietnam Railways . The principal route is the thousand-mile single track North-South Railway line, running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This was built at the metre gauge in the 1880s during the French colonial rule...
, stated that the government was expected to resubmit the project after new leaders of the Communist Party are selected in 2011, and that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would likely be asked to examine the feasibility of two priority sections from Hanoi to Vinh and from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang. After a meeting with the Ministry of Transport in October 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai was reported to have authorized the reception of Japanese technical assistance for those two sections.
Shuji Eguchi, a director at the Japanese Transport Ministry's railway bureau, noted that the Japanese government has recently put more focus on exporting Japanese infrastructure systems such as the shinkansen to jump-start economic growth, but that the Vietnamese express railway project is considered a long-term one. In an August 2010 interview, Eguchi was quoted as saying "We need a step-by-step approach. The conventional Vietnamese railway is single track and not electrified yet ... To jump from that stage to the shinkansen, Vietnam needs to train personnel and enact necessary legislation."
See also
- Transport in VietnamTransport in Vietnam- Railways :The Vietnamese railway network has a total length of , dominated by the single track North-South Railway running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The national railway network uses mainly metre gauge, although there are several standard gauge and mixed gauge lines in the North of the...
- Rail transport in VietnamRail transport in VietnamThe railway system in Vietnam is owned and operated by the state-owned Vietnam Railways . The principal route, the single track North-South Railway running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, accounts for of the network's total length of...
- North-South Railway, VietnamNorth-South Railway, VietnamThe Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge...
- North-South Expressway, VietnamNorth-South Expressway, VietnamNorth–South Expressway is the most common name referring to a planned Vietnamese expressway located very close to National Highway, running from Hanoi to Can Tho. The express way will be 1,941 km long, running from Can Tho with total cost estimate of VND 350 trillion...