Hanoi is studying direct rail links between the city center and Gia Binh and Noi Bai airports, aiming to minimize travel distances and reduce journey times to 30–45 minutes.
Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang chaired a meeting on November 10 to review transport connections to Gia Binh International Airport, including proposed railway alignments and the locations of urban railway stations.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung, Hung Yen People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Manh Quyen, Bac Ninh People's Committee Vice Chairman Ngo Tan Phuong and representatives of relevant agencies.
Hanoi targets 30–45-minute rail journeys to both airports
Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang calls for studying the shortest possible railway connection between Gia Binh Airport and Hanoi. Photo: Viet Thanh.
Thang said Gia Binh International Airport is expected to be completed in 2027.
Although road and railway connections to the airport have been studied and proposed, the specific routes linking the airport with central Hanoi remain unclear and require further refinement.
The Government has assigned Hanoi to coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and neighboring provinces to review and develop an integrated, interconnected and efficient urban railway network.
One of the key priorities is to plan and allocate investment resources for urban railway lines directly connecting Gia Binh International Airport and Noi Bai International Airport with central Hanoi.
The objective is to improve connectivity and maximize the efficiency of the transport network.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung said Noi Bai International Airport is projected to handle 50 million passengers annually by 2030, with capacity expected to reach 100 million passengers by 2050.
The Government has tasked relevant agencies with studying an operational plan for Gia Binh Airport, including the possibility of transferring all international flight operations from Noi Bai to Gia Binh.
Under this proposed arrangement, Noi Bai would continue handling domestic flights and some international services during 2029–2030.
Investment in Hanoi's second airport would be undertaken in a subsequent phase, in line with long-term planning orientations.
Regarding airport transport connections, Dung emphasized the need to develop both road infrastructure and urban railways.
He proposed studying a railway alignment from Gia Binh Airport through Gia Lam Station to central Hanoi, while clearly identifying the city's central urban railway hub and the locations of stations in the planning framework.
The goal is to select routes offering the shortest distances and travel times, with journeys between central Hanoi and the airports targeted at approximately 30–45 minutes.
Dung also suggested operating direct airport trains with limited intermediate stops to shorten travel times, following models adopted in several other countries.
For interregional railway lines connecting Hanoi with Hung Yen and Bac Ninh, he requested that the Vietnam Railway Authority coordinate with the construction departments of the two provinces to review the proposed connections.
Gia Lam Station proposed as major railway interchange
Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung says railway plans should aim to reduce travel times between central Hanoi and the airports to approximately 30–45 minutes. Photo: Viet Thanh.
Concluding the meeting, Hanoi Chairman Vu Dai Thang said the national railway network, under existing plans, would not run directly into the city center.
Instead, national railway services would connect through transport hubs along corridors and in areas north of the city.
Taking into account discussions at the meeting, particularly recommendations from Bac Ninh Province and Deputy Minister Dung, Thang called for further study of the shortest possible railway connection between Gia Binh Airport and Hanoi.
He stressed that the proposed route should provide convenient access to the city while minimizing the need for passengers to transfer between trains or switch transport modes.
Under this approach, Hanoi proposed developing Gia Lam Station as a major interchange linking different railway systems.
The station would connect national railways, high-speed rail services and urban railway lines, with a dedicated connection extending toward Gia Binh Airport.
Thang also called for maintaining the planned alignment of Urban Railway Line 1 along Hanoi's north–south corridor, describing it as an important cross-city route.
On that basis, he proposed studying an additional branch connecting the Gia Lam Station area with the city center before extending eastward toward Gia Binh Airport.
The proposal would involve adding a branch line rather than fundamentally changing railway plans and projects that have already been approved or are under implementation.
Direct railway link between Gia Binh and Noi Bai airports considered
The proposed railway arrangement could also facilitate a direct connection between Gia Binh and Noi Bai airports.
Under such a system, international passengers arriving at Gia Binh could travel by rail to Noi Bai to connect with domestic flights to other Vietnamese provinces and cities.
Passengers traveling in the opposite direction could similarly use the railway connection to transfer from domestic flights at Noi Bai to international services at Gia Binh.
The proposed network would therefore improve passenger transfers between the two airports while strengthening rail connectivity across Hanoi and neighboring provinces.
Vietnamnet.vn
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