On October 2, the Traffic Safety Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province reported that it had submitted a document to the Provincial People’s Committee, detailing the results of an on-site inspection of railway safety in Phu Loc District.
This action followed a series of train derailments in the province, sparking widespread concern. From July 28 to September 28, six separate railway incidents occurred on the Thua Luu - Lang Co section.
These incidents involved the repeated derailment of both passenger and freight trains, with four cases involving passenger carriages and two involving freight train locomotives.
Although these incidents did not result in severe consequences, the repeated occurrences in such a short period have heightened concerns about the safety of the railway infrastructure.
"Six derailments in two months, even without serious consequences, are a significant concern. Immediate measures are needed to ensure safety," emphasized a representative of the Thua Thien Hue Traffic Safety Committee.
The North-South railway spans 111.1 kilometers through Thua Thien Hue Province, with Binh Tri Thien Railway JSC managing 101.1 kilometers and Da Nang - Quang Nam Railway JSC overseeing the remaining 10 kilometers north of Hai Van Pass.
Authorities, including the Thua Thien Hue Traffic Safety Committee, the Department of Transport, the Provincial Police, the Railway Safety Management Department II, and relevant agencies, have conducted inspections to evaluate the safety of the North-South railway in Phu Loc District.
The section running through Phu Loc District, particularly the Thua Luu - Lang Co area, is known for its mountainous terrain and tight curves. At Lang Co Station, the track switches are old, with large switch tangents and short lengths (notably at the N10 switch at Lang Co Station).
In light of these findings, the Traffic Safety Committee has urged the Provincial People’s Committee to submit a formal request to the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Railway Administration, calling for urgent action to resolve the issue and ensure railway safety.
Quang Thanh