VietNamNet Bridge – The restoration of the Thap Cham-Da Lat Railway, originally built by the French, will receive investment from a private-public-partnership (PPP).

The Da Lat-Thap Cham railway restoration project will be completed with a VND17.2 trillion (US$310 million) investment in the form of a private-public-partnership (PPP). — baoninhthuan.com.vn

Bach Dang Trading-Service Joint-Stock Company announced the decision after a meeting with the Ninh Thuan Province’s People’s Committee on Wednesday.

The company also provided a pre-feasibility study of the project to the People’s Committee.

The project, which will have a total investment of VND17.2 trillion (US$310 million), will connect Thap Cham Station in Ninh Thuan Province to Da Lat Station in Lam Dong Province.

The railway project will have a total length of 84km with 17 stations.

Luu Xuan Vinh, head of the Ninh Thuan Province’s People’s Committee, asked Bach Dang Company to complete the study and submit it to the Ministry of Transport before it is sent to the Government and the National Assembly for approval.

Opened in 1928 by the French, the old railway route has 12 stations and goes through five tunnels. Most of the track has cogwheels that connect to the bottom of the train to provide traction when trains travel up and down hills.

In 1975, the railway was left abandoned due to low profits. In 2015, the Government approved a master plan on the development of Vietnam’s railway transportation, including the upgrade of the Thap Cham-Da Lat railway route.

Currently, only an upgraded 7km section of the railway track from Da Lat City to Trai Mat Station is being used for tourism purposes. Four trains on the section transport tourists to Trai Mat Station. From there, they can visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda, a famous attraction in Da Lat.

The railway renovation project is expected to enhance tourism to Da Lat and Phan Rang-Thap Cham City where stunning scenery, mountains and open spaces stretching to the Pacific Ocean can be viewed. 

Source: VNS