The Viet Nam Railway Corporation is considering a ban on the use of electronic devices, including smartphones, by its staff to ensure railway traffic safety and order.

Passengers board a train in Da Nang Station. 

This is part of the corporation’s efforts to bring railway incidents under control after a string of train accidents left two dead and 11 injured.

According to a resolution released early this month, those who work as train drivers or railway barrier guards and those in similar positions will not be allowed to use electronic devices, especially smartphones, during work hours.

A steering committee will be set up between June and August to supervise the campaign to ensure railway traffic safety.

The corporation has also required all units this month to temporarily halt tourism and sports programmes for their staff and meetings to focus on railway order and safety.

The units have been asked to study a plan to set up centralised and integrated monitoring systems accessible to all. The investment, installation, management, and exploitation of the monitoring system must comply with demands regarding uniformity and cost savings.

The corporation has asked units in charge of railway security and safety to coordinate with each other to analyse the railway incidents in a timely manner and clearly identify the cause and responsibility of involved units.

They have also been tasked with ensuring strict compliance with operational procedures and propose immediate and long-term solutions to safeguard rail traffic safety.

The corporation also asked relevant units to review the working time and income of staff and to make changes if neccessary.

Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh urged transport authorities to take urgent measures to put railway incidents under control. 

A series of train accidents occured late last month, leaving two dead and 11 injured, damaging rail lines and carriages, and blocking traffic for hours. — VNS