HCMC – A proposed coastal railway connecting Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Quang Ninh and Haiphong in northern Vietnam will be considered for development after 2030, depending on future transport demand, according to the Ministry of Construction.
Under the national railway network plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, the 101-kilometer coastal rail line is designed with a standard gauge of 1,435 mm. The project’s implementation timeline is set beyond 2030, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
Currently, the transport corridor between these northern provinces relies on road and waterway networks. Freight transport is mainly carried by road and inland/coastal waterways. Meanwhile, a new expressway connecting Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh is under construction and is expected to meet passenger transport demand through 2045.
Transport forecasts from the railway development plan estimate that by 2050, annual rail transport demand could reach 1.5 to 3.5 million passengers and 1.5 to 2.5 million tons of cargo. The Ministry of Construction said that railway investment in this corridor will be reconsidered when demand for freight and passenger transport increases significantly.
In related developments, the Hanoi People’s Committee has urged faster progress on key transport infrastructure projects, including Beltway No. 4 and several major rail lines.
For the Beltway No. 4 project, local authorities have been directed to complete site clearance on schedule. The Department of Finance has been assigned to propose a plan for reallocating 2024 capital to ensure funding for the project’s implementation.
Hanoi’s transport project management board is preparing documentation to expedite the necessary procedures once an investor is selected, aiming to commence construction on May 19, 2025.
Regarding the North-South high-speed railway and the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Haiphong railway projects, local departments have been tasked with preparing documentation and procedures for land clearance and resettlement to keep the projects on track.
For the Nam Thang Long–Tran Hung Dao urban railway, the Department of Finance will coordinate with the urban railway management board to propose an advance from the city budget while negotiations and procedures for an official development assistance (ODA) loan agreement are finalized.
