Experts from the Republic of Korea (RoK) have recommended Vietnam develop a high-speed railway network with the track gauge of 1,435mm.

Vietnam has been recommended to develop a high-speed railway network with the track gauge of 1,435mm

This is one of the recommendations they proposed within the framework of a development experience exchange programme (DEEP) in the transport sector that uses the RoK’s non-refundable official development assistance via the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

In this programme’s consultancy package, the RoK side has raised recommendations about improvements to the legal system relating to the urban railway management, rail transport safety, railway technical standards, and regulations on the construction and operation of the national and urban railway systems.

At a workshop held by the Ministry of Transport in Hanoi on February 27, KOICA Country Director for Vietnam Kim Jin-oh said since 2017, experts from the Korea Rail Research Institute has coordinated with relevant sides to study the legal system on the railway sector in Vietnam and some other countries so as to provide recommendations to Vietnam.

He said the RoK side hopes to share experience in the safe and efficient operation of railway networks, and expected this programme will help form a legal foundation for the development of Vietnam’s railway sector.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong said his ministry hopes that after 2020, the State will reserve more capital for investing in and upgrading the existing railway system. Therefore, research outcomes of this programme will be considered for application in Vietnam.

According to the Vietnam Railway Corporation, the rail route from the Gia Lam station of Hanoi to the Dong Dang station of Lang Son province is currently the only route using both the gauges of 1,435mm and 1,000mm in Vietnam.-VNA