The Vietnam Railway Authority has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Transport for appraisal and approval of the planning for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh railway line.

According to the plan, the railway will begin at the connection point with the Chinese railway in Lao Cai Province and end at Cai Lan Station in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province.

The entire route will stretch 447.66 km, passing through 10 provinces and cities: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh.

The planned route includes 41 stations and approximately 145 bridges, crossing major rivers such as the Red River, Lo River, and Bach Dang River. It will also include overpasses over key expressways such as the Hanoi - Lao Cai, Hanoi - Hai Phong, and Hai Phong - Quang Ninh expressways, as well as national highways and some provincial roads.

Based on the planning proposal, consultants have calculated that the investment needed for this railway line amounts to nearly VND 183.856 trillion (nearly $7.7 billion).

The Vietnam Railway Authority has recommended that the railway project be divided into two phases. Phase 1, to be completed by 2030, will focus on constructing the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong section.

Phase 2, covering the Hai Phong - Quang Ninh section, will be studied and implemented after 2030 in alignment with the investment schedule for the coastal railway route from Nam Dinh - Thai Binh - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh.

N. Huyen