Vietnam Needs US$40Bln to Build North-South Express Railway

Vietnam Needs US$40Bln to Build North-South Express Railway

Vietnam is estimated to spend VND603.75 trillion (US$40 billion) building the first express railway across the country to link the two major cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, according to the Construction Consultancy and Investment Co. under the Vietnam Railway Corp. (VRC), the project designer.

Accordingly, it will cost some US$20 million for each kilometer of the express railway and US$15 million for the high-speed railway.

Covering an estimated area of 8,500 ha, the express railway will have five routes, including one route linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and four connecting the two major economic centers with surroundings areas.

The two kinds of railway, which are designed to have double sizes, independent barriers and are electrified, specialize in serving 200-350km/h trains.

Express trains are required to use locomotives, which have capacities of more than 12,000CV.

Experts said that the project would take Vietnam 20-30 years although the country currently plans to have a Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City express railway by 2020.

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