Deputy Minister of Transport, Nguyen Danh Huy, recently issued a directive to the Vietnam Railway Authority and the VNR, requiring an urgent inspection and assessment of the current state of the railway infrastructure, locomotives, and carriages. The aim is to identify the root causes of these frequent derailments along the North-South route, particularly in the Phu Loc district of Thua Thien Hue.

Upon identifying the causes, both entities are expected to implement corrective measures to ensure safety and report any further issues to the Ministry of Transport for appropriate action. Additionally, VNR has been instructed to enhance monitoring, develop safety measures, and conduct maintenance to ensure the continuous safe operation of the railway infrastructure.

VNR will be held accountable by the Minister of Transport in the event of any further derailments along the railway segment passing through Phu Loc district.

In the last two months, six train derailments have occurred along the North-South railway segment in Phu Loc district, with four incidents involving derailed carriages. Notably, two separate derailments occurred on September 28, both involving locomotives. While no casualties were reported, these incidents significantly disrupted traffic along the North-South railway.

According to the Traffic Safety Board of Thua Thien Hue province, the North-South railway spans 111.1 km across the province. Two railway companies manage this stretch: Binh Tri Thien Railway JSC oversees 101.1 km, while Da Nang - Quang Nam Railway JSC manages 10 km.

The railway section through Phu Loc district, particularly the Thua Luu - Lang Co segment, traverses a mountainous area with numerous sharp curves and challenging terrain.

The province’s Traffic Safety Board noted that these derailments have occurred repeatedly, particularly in the Thua Luu - Lang Co segment.

In response to these incidents, on September 30, VNR formed a task force to investigate the derailment causes on site.

VNR leadership reported that the recent train derailments in Thua Thien Hue occurred at various locations, not concentrated at a single point. Each derailment had distinct characteristics, requiring a detailed inspection of track conditions, carriages, and other railway equipment to prevent future occurrences.

Regarding the two locomotive derailments that took place on September 28 along the North-South route in Phu Loc district, VNR attributed the cause to the construction company, Binh Tri Thien Railway JSC. The company’s work on the tracks did not meet technical standards, and the superelevation exceeded the specified limits.

N. Huyen