VietNamNet Bridge - With just 200 passengers, that number of people is enough to make the Long Bien Railway Station cramped and overcrowded whenever a train comes. The Giap Bat Railway Station is old and it primarily serves freight trains.

On the railway from Hanoi to HCM City, Long Bien is the only station that has just one track. The station is located in the Old Quarter, on the bridgehead of the Long Bien Bridge.

This is the destination of trains from Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai and some northern provinces.

The waiting room is quiet when there is no train in the station. At the first glance, no one can say that this is a station located near the center of the capital.

But when the train arrives, with only 200 passengers, the station is filled.

Inside, passengers sit in the office area and the toilets.

According to the Vietnam Railway Corporation, Long Bien station is too small and it is located in the Old Quarter so the station is inconvenient for passengers and causes traffic jams.

The way to get on the train is less than 2m wide.

Vendors occupy the road.

Similarly, Giap Bat station on Giai Phong Road is mainly used for transporting goods.

The waiting room is small and quiet. A man was waiting for the train to Vinh (Nghe An).

The road and the platform are deteriorated.

To deal with congestion and traffic conflicts, in December 2000, Hanoi asked passenger trains to stop at suburban stations like Long Bien and Giap Bat.

However, as Long Bien and Giap Bat stations are too small and old, the Ministry of Transport has asked the Hanoi authorities’ permission for sending two North-South trains to the Hanoi Railway Station during the day.

VNE