Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has asked the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant agencies to make a pre-feasibility study for a project on building a North-South express rail route.

The project is meant to meet transport demand, enhance connectivity of major cities along the North-South route, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and develop transport means.

The route is scheduled to be developed in three phases. From now to 2020, agencies are set to build a plan for the route construction and prepare conditions for building sections with big transport demand, especially Hanoi – Vinh city and HCM City – Nha Trang city.

From 2020 to 2030, sections with big transport demand will be prioritised for construction with dual 1,435mm-gauge tracks, allowing trains to move from 160km to about 200km per hour.

The North-South express rail route is expected to be completed between 2030 and 2050 so trains can be operated at 350km per hour after 2050.

The Deputy PM has also instructed these agencies to make an assessment of possible environmental impacts of the express rail route project.-VNA