North–South express railway Vietnam

The proposed high speed railway of Vietnam would reduce travel time between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to 5 hours and 20 minutes. If it ever gets built.

October 28, 2020

This week I continue the series of new railways in Southeast Asia. The North-South express railway of Vietnam would be a replacement of what is now an antiquated railway system that connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. If it is built it would be the longest high-speed railway in Southeast Asia.

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The Vietnam North–South express railway is a proposed high speed railway that would replace the current North–South railway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The North-South railway that connects Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is long overdue for an upgrade. Apart from running on Diesel locomotives instead of steam, the line has barely changed since is was completed in 1936.

Like most of Southeast Asia, the railway of Vietnam runs on a single-track metre-gauge line. Vietnam though is now being left behind when compared to ASEAN countries with similar population base (Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia). Those countries have new railways under construction, and are double tracking and upgrading their old railways.

In this week’s article I’ve archived all the news articles since the express railway project was first proposed. It’s now been over 13 years since the project was announced, and in 2020 the government is still doing feasibility studies.

Other News

Cambodia

“Cambodia has recently been exploring new railway routes to both Vietnam and Thailand with the hope of easing cross-border trade and boosting future tourism.”

“Local company Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp Ltd (OCIC) on Monday announced plans to spend a total of $2.5 billion to develop the Koh Norea peninsula in southeastern Phnom Penh into a new satellite city.”

Indonesia

Japan

Laos

“The Vang Vieng New Development Zone, a $5.3 billion project claiming more than 7,000 hectares of land in one of the country’s most scenic areas, is now in its final planning stage, with its developers having completed feasibility and environmental impact studies, according to media sources.”

Malaysia

“The construction schedule on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Malaysia’s mega rail project being built by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), has not been affected by the COVID-19 situation and work is ahead of schedule, Malaysian media reported.”

Myanmar

“Myanmar says it has received 16 proposals from nine countries, including Japan, Singapore, Italy, Spain and France, to compete against a Chinese company’s proposal for the New Yangon City project, which is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).”

“Myanmar’s new government will have a long to-do list. One of the issues it will have to scrutinize is what’s going on in Shwe Kokko, a village in Karen State’s Myawaddy Township near the Thai border.”

Philippines

“An artificial beach strip in Manila Bay has environmentalists up in arms. Scientists warn its dolomite sand could harm people's health and marine wildlife.”

Singapore

Thailand

“The government will sign "Contract 2.3", worth more than 50 billion baht, for work on the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday.”

“A plan to revive some of Bangkok's fetid canals can help ease traffic congestion and create a more liveable city.”

Vietnam

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