VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam Railways Corporation (VNR) recently submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Transport to upgrade 22 tunnels on the railway line between Ha Noi and HCM City.

A rail tunnel connects Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue provinces. The Viet Nam Railways Corporation has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Transport to upgrade 22 tunnels on the line between Ha Noi and HCM City. — Photo dantri.com.vn

The railway is the main line in Viet Nam, and covers 1,726 km.

The tunnels are located in the central provinces of Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa.

Doi Sy Hung, deputy general director of the corporation, said that the restoration would improve the safety and effectiveness of the railway system.

Railways only account for 2.19 per cent of the transport market share, and 1.2 per cent of the logistics sector.

The project aims to increase the average train speed to between 80kmph and 90kmph for passenger trains and between 50kmph and 60kmph for goods trains.

The restoration includes the upgrade of the drainage system along the tunnels.

The VND3 trillion (US$136 million) project will be funded by the State budget and Government bonds.

If approved, the project will take more than five years to complete.

Previously in February, the VRC also proposed its plan to develop its railway transport system towards 2020, which was approved by the Prime Minister.

The strategy also includes a plan to build a new high-speed north-south railway with priority given to busy routes such as Ha Noi-HCM City, Ha Noi-Vinh and HCM City-Nha Trang.

VNS