On November 9, the Hanoi People’s Committee celebrated the commercial launch of the Nhon-Hanoi station metro segment, symbolizing a new milestone in sustainable urban transport collaboration between France and Vietnam.
France has shown particular interest in and close attention to the North-South High-Speed Rail project, which is currently under review by Vietnam’s National Assembly.
On November 9, the Hanoi People’s Committee inaugurated commercial operations for the elevated Nhon-Hanoi Station segment of the metro pilot line. This project represents a milestone in French-Vietnamese cooperation on sustainable urban transport.
French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet shared his thoughts on the significance of this event.
“The Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line is one of the major projects symbolizing the collaborative relationship between Vietnam and France, as well as between France and Hanoi. France has contributed significantly, providing over 500 million euros, and leading French companies have brought their top technology to the project,” stated the Ambassador.
French Ambassador Olivier Brochet (second from right) experiences the Nhon-Hanoi metro line.
During Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit to France in October, the two countries solidified their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Ambassador Olivier Brochet noted that a key point in the joint declaration was the focus on sustainable development, particularly sustainable transportation.
“Both Vietnam and France share a strong interest in rail transport, encompassing both urban rail systems and inter-provincial rail connections. The commercial operation of the Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line reflects France’s commitment to supporting Vietnam in this critical field,” the Ambassador affirmed.
This is the second metro line to become operational in Hanoi and also the second of its kind in Vietnam. It is a large-scale project involving multiple contractors and extensive collaboration across various government agencies. “In the process, we have learned effective ways of working together,” the Ambassador noted.
He also emphasized the valuable lessons gained through this project, which can aid future developments, not only in metro projects but also in urban and high-speed rail systems.
French Ambassador Olivier Brochet.
The Ambassador stated, “France is particularly focused on and is closely following the North-South High-Speed Rail project, which the Vietnamese National Assembly is currently considering. We are awaiting Vietnam’s decision, based on which we will explore the best ways to contribute.”
Ambassador Brochet highlighted France’s extensive experience in high-speed rail, a field with deep historical roots in France dating back to the mid-19th century. Since the Paris Metro’s debut in 1900 and the launch of Europe’s first high-speed trains (TGV – Train à Grande Vitesse) over 40 years ago, France has continually pushed technical boundaries in this sector.
France’s high-speed rail network not only connects its major cities but also links with the European high-speed rail system. In over four decades of TGV operations, there have been no accidents at high speeds, despite minor technical incidents, underscoring the reliability of France’s model of high-speed rail transportation, the Ambassador added.
France remains active in global-scale projects, such as the expansive Grand Paris Express metro extension and a new 200-kilometer line across the Paris region. France has also exported its railway technology globally, recently completing a high-speed rail project in Morocco.
Two TGV trains at the East Paris station. Photo: Wikipedia
“Implementing a high-speed rail system is highly complex, requiring experience in management and operations. We hope to share our knowledge and technology with Vietnam,” the Ambassador remarked.
Regarding financial support, Ambassador Brochet explained that it is currently challenging to give specific answers, as this depends on how Vietnam’s National Assembly and Government choose to fund the North-South High-Speed Rail project.
According to information shared with France, Vietnam intends for the majority of project funding to come from domestic sources, specifically state funds, while also potentially utilizing private sector financing and international cooperation. Ambassador Brochet suggested that should Vietnam decide to implement part of the project under a public-private partnership model, France would be particularly interested in exploring involvement.
Vietnamnet.vn
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