Implementation Plan for North-South High-Speed Railway Project

The North-South high-speed railway is advancing as the Ministry of Construction outlines legal and operational steps to ensure a timely project launch by the end of 2026. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Legal Preparation for North-South High-Speed Railway

The Ministry of Construction submitted a detailed draft plan to the Government to implement the National Assembly’s Resolution on the North-South high-speed railway. The plan highlights key milestones and legislative tasks.

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By June 30, 2025, the Government must issue three essential decrees for the railway sector. One decree will establish criteria for selecting domestic organizations and enterprises for key service roles. Another decree will guide science and technology development for the sector, setting research and technology transfer standards. A third decree will manage temporary forest land use during construction and ensure restoration afterward.

Additionally, the Government plans to release a Prime Minister’s Decision listing railway industrial goods and services for domestic production. These legal documents aim to provide a solid foundation for the North-South high-speed railway project’s next stages.

Besides legislative efforts, two major Government action programs will also support the project. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will lead the Railway Industry Development Program by assessing design, manufacturing, construction, and technology sectors. Learning from international models, they will craft a development roadmap through 2035, with a vision extending to 2045.

At the same time, the Ministry of Construction will spearhead the Human Resources Development Program for high-speed rail. The initiative will address training needs across management, investment, construction, and operational fields. It will also define the number of specialists needed, required qualifications, training schedules, and necessary resources.

Construction Timeline for North-South High-Speed Railway

The Government aims to accelerate construction of the North-South high-speed railway, targeting a late 2026 groundbreaking — one year earlier than originally planned.

The Ministry of Construction has divided the preparation into three key phases. The first phase focuses on completing the Feasibility Study Report by September 2026, including supervision and bidding preparations. The second phase covers land clearance efforts such as compensation, resettlement, and site handover from 2025 to mid-2028.

The final preparation phase will include contractor selection and initial construction, scheduled between October 2026 and December 2026. To speed up the process, the Ministry proposed special mechanisms like designated contractor selection for specific works.

Furthermore, before April 30, the Ministry will finalize decrees regarding technical design standards and responsibilities under EPC contracts. This will streamline legal procedures essential for launching major infrastructure work.

On the urban development side, the Ministry recommends local authorities update railway station planning to support land use projects under the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model. Local budgets should fund resettlement efforts to create land reserves for auction and future urban development, targeting completion by December 2025.

Approved by the National Assembly in November 2024, the North-South high-speed railway will stretch 1,541 kilometers from Hanoi’s Ngoc Hoi station to Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Thiem station, crossing 20 provinces.

The project, estimated at around $67 billion, will use a double-gauge track designed for speeds up to 350 km/h. With 23 passenger stations and 5 freight hubs, the railway will boost transportation, national defense, and economic growth.

Source: www.vietnam.vn

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