Under the proposal, the North-South high-speed railway has a double gauge of 1,435mm and length of 1,508.6 kilometers. The maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour is designed for passenger and cargo trains, while the speed of 180 kilometers per hour is designed for inter-regional passenger and container cargo trains.

The total investment capital of the project is estimated at $61.67 billion, of which state mobilized capital is $52.59 billion (85.27 percent), while capital to be mobilized from the land auction at 50 station areas is $38.95 billion (63.15 percent) and public investment capital is $13.64 billion (22.12 percent).

The time needed to implement the project is 16 years and three months, which would undergo three phases. Phase 1 (2025-2031) would be time for site clearance, the building of Thu Thiem – Nha Trang section with the length of 361.01 kilometers, and building of TOD infrastructure to put station areas in the entire route into auction to create financial capability for the project.

Phase 2 (2031-2038) is the time for building the Hanoi - DaNang route with the length of 677.2 kilometers and investment capital of $26.44 billion.

Phase 3 (2038-2041), is the stage for building the Da Nang - NhaTrang route, 469.85 kilometers long, with total investment capital of $18.65 billion.

According to the inspection agency, public investment capital is expected to be allocated in four phases with total capital of $3.41 billion for each phase, which means that VND81-85 trillion would be mobilized from the central budget, ODA (official development assistance) capital, preferential commercial loans, and project notes.

The private capital Vietnam needs to mobilize is $9.08 billion (14.7 percent). 

Private partners will receive some concessions in infrastructure management, and annual fees for infrastructure and equipment use. They will be responsible for exploitation, maintenance and running of routes during the PPP (private public partnership) time.

As for the state budget, a transport expert said the capital of $3 billion for each phase is within the safety line.

If the project gets approval from the National Assembly, it should avoid tardiness and increases in capital, which causes waste of society’s resources.

Regarding resources from land rent disparities at station areas, Dang Huy Dong, former Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, said the exploitation of the land where the railway passes through is a feasible solution.

Vu Diep