The Ministry of Transport (Bộ GTVT) believes that choosing the route for the North-South high-speed railway to pass through Nam Định City offers an estimated benefit of around USD 400 million over 30 years, compared to a direct route that bypasses this area.
This information was presented by the Ministry of Transport in a report addressing the feedback and explanations provided to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly regarding the North-South high-speed railway project.
Previously, the reviewing authority suggested clarifying the route direction following the principle of “as straight as possible,” especially in the section passing through Nam Dinh Province, to ensure the project’s effectiveness.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the route through Nam Dinh Province has been studied to ensure alignment with the national, regional, and provincial planning frameworks. During the research process, the design unit proposed three options for analysis and comparison.
•Option 1 routes closer to Nam Dinh City, with the station located approximately 5 km from the city center.
•Option 2 routes farther from the city center, with the station about 12 km away.
•Option 3 extends the route directly connecting Ha Nam and Ninh Binh without passing through Nam Dinh.
According to Ministry of Transport leaders, Nam Dinh City, serving as the southern center of the Northern Coastal Region, has a projected population of about 600,000 by 2040. It is a transportation hub with high transport demand and attracts nearby areas in the Red River Delta, such as Thai Binh and Hung Yen.
By 2050, the demand for arriving and departing passengers at Nam Dinh station is forecasted to reach nearly 3 million passengers per year. Additionally, if investment and operational costs are calculated over 30 years, the section passing through Nam Dinh (12 km) will cost approximately USD 1.66 billion, with estimated benefits of USD 2.06 billion.
The report notes that operating the high-speed rail line through Nam Dinh City would yield an estimated USD 400 million in benefits over 30 years compared to a direct route bypassing the area. Furthermore, global experience shows that many high-speed rail routes bypass large centers to attract passengers, as seen in Japan, South Korea, and Germany.
In discussions on November 13 regarding the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project, delegate Nguyen Hai Dung (from Nam Dinh) also emphasized that the high-speed railway station is included in the national and provincial railway planning for Nam Dinh Province for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, located in My Hung Commune (now Hung Loc Ward, Nam Dinh City).
Dung expressed that the people of Nam Dinh are delighted to see the planned high-speed railway route passing through the province and hope this will soon become a reality.
High-Speed Railway Route Options
The Ministry of Transport stated that the proposed high-speed railway route considered connectivity with existing and planned railway lines, urban railway networks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, major airports, seaports, key economic zones, and international rail connections (China, Laos, Cambodia).
In the northern region, starting from the Ngoc Hoi complex and Thuong Tin station, the route will connect with northern railway lines (Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong, Hanoi – Lang Son) via the eastern and western ring lines.
Additionally, the route will connect with central Hanoi via Metro Line No. 1, link to Noi Bai Airport through Metro Line No. 6, and connect to the seaports in the Hai Phong area, enabling international transportation with China through the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong and Hanoi – Lang Son lines.
Central Region: The route will facilitate international connections with Laos at Vung Ang Station via the Mu Gia – Vung Ang – Vientiane line. At Chu Lai Station, it will connect with Chu Lai Airport, which is planned as a central freight transport hub for the region. The route will also link to Vung Ang Port (Vung Ang Station), Ky Ha Port (Chu Lai Station), and Van Phong Port (Ninh Hoa Station), and integrate with the railway line passing through the Central Highlands at Da Nang Station.
Southern Region: The route will connect with Ho Chi Minh City’s railway network and seaports (Cai Mep – Thi Vai) via the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau line (Trang Bom Station). It will also establish international transportation links with Cambodia through the Ho Chi Minh City – Loc Ninh line. In the Mekong Delta region, the route will follow the Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho line. Thu Thiem Station will link to central Ho Chi Minh City and Tan Son Nhat International Airport through metro lines, with direct connectivity to Long Thanh Airport at Long Thanh Station.
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Source: Vietnam Insider