HCMC – The Ministry of Construction has proposed that the prime minister authorize HCMC to oversee the development of a 42-kilometer urban railway connecting Thu Thiem New Urban Area and the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport, and costing a total of US$3.5 billion.
Under the proposal, the HCMC government will take over existing research results from the Railway Project Management Board, which initially conducted feasibility studies on the project.
The ministry has also recommended that the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway be incorporated into HCMC’s urban railway master plan and designated as a pilot project for special mechanisms and policies to support urban rail expansion in Hanoi and HCMC.
The ministry suggested early implementation of a railway linking Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh International Airport to ensure synchronized construction, efficient operations, and optimal land use in the surrounding areas.
According to the pre-feasibility study, the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway will span 48.2 kilometers, comprising a 41.8-kilometer main route and a 4.4-kilometer access route to the Cam Duong depot.
The mass rapid transit system will allow trains to operate at a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour on the main route and 80 kilometers per hour in underground sections.
The Ministry of Construction is finalizing the pre-feasibility study report, which is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for investment approval in October 2025. If approved, construction is scheduled to begin in late 2026, with completion targeted for 2029 and commercial operations starting in 2030.
