HCMC – HCMC authorities have instructed relevant agencies to urgently complete the feasibility study and front-end engineering design (FEED) for the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railway project so construction can begin before July 2, establishing a strategic transport corridor linking the city center with the new international airport in Dong Nai City.
The directive was issued by Bui Xuan Cuong, vice chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, following a recent on-site inspection of the project.
The railway is envisioned not only as a passenger transport line but also as a model for leveraging land through transit-oriented development (TOD), integrating urban expansion with public transportation infrastructure.
The line will stretch about 47.7 kilometers, including 11.5 kilometers in HCMC and 36.2 kilometers in neighboring Dong Nai City. Under the master plan, the route will include 19 stations, comprising two underground stations and 17 elevated ones.
To optimize resources, city leaders asked the relevant agencies and the investor consortium to carefully assess phased investment plans for stations based on projected passenger demand. The project aims to maximize operational efficiency, shorten travel time between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports, and minimize public investment costs.
A key component of the project is the development of TOD zones around major stations such as Thu Thiem, Binh Trung, and the Long Truong depot area. Authorities expect the plan to make more effective use of land resources, create compact urban spaces, and increase budget revenues from rising land value.
HCMC will also coordinate closely with Dong Nai City to finalize route alignments, station locations, and integration solutions with the extended Metro Line No. 1 (Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien) and sections of Metro Line No. 2 (Ben Thanh–Tham Luong and Ben Thanh–Thu Thiem). The entire system, from rolling stock to automatic fare collection and SCADA integrated control technology, will be standardized to ensure seamless connectivity across the future urban railway network.
