The launch of int’l cargo transportation services since the beginning of this year at two stations in the northern province of Bac Giang and the southern province of Binh Duong has opened up a new development direction for the sector.

The Vietnamese Government has initiated plans to begin construction of a North-South high-speed rail route by 2030 and put it into operation by 2045.

Two cold-chain freight trains carrying fruits and vegetables left southwest China's Yunnan province for Laos and Vietnam respectively on October 16, marking the launch of international cold-chain train services on China-Laos, China-Vietnam routes.

The Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company (Haraco) said the railway sector wiill officially put two high-quality trains into operation on the Hanoi – Da Nang route from October 20.

The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) has refurbished two high-quality carriages and put them into operation on the Hanoi – Da Nang route starting October 20.

Underfunded, growing population and rapid urbanization undermine Hanoi's public transport system.

The VNR transported more than 1.7 million passengers and 1 million tonnes of goods in the first eight months of this year.

Upon completion, the rail link would significantly reduce travel time from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to around six hours.

A high-speed rail line connecting Khammouane Province in Laos and the Vietnam-Laos border is slated to be put into service in 2028.

A consortium has put forth a proposal to develop a 103-kilometer section of the Vietnam-Laos railway project with an investment cost of VND27,485 billion.

A ceremony was held in Hanoi’s Yen Vien station on August 2 to welcome the first freight train on Shijiazhuang (China) – Yen Vien (Vietnam) railway route.

A report on the planning of railway routes and stations in Hanoi was published by the Transport Design Consultancy Corporation (TEDI) and the Centre for Transport Development and Investment Consulting (CCTDI).

As much as 17 billion USD is needed to build two railway routes connecting to seaports, namely Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong and Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, according to the Ministry of Transport (MoT).

Two passenger trains from the capital city of Hanoi to the northern port city of Hai Phong will be organised at the Hanoi station on all days in the week starting July 13, instead of just weekends and holidays like now.

According to Vietnam Railways (VNR), since the beginning of this year, the country saw 68 railway accidents, of which 31 occurred at illegal crossroads.

Vietnam Railway Corporation has proposed two railway routes connecting Cao Xa Station in the northern province of Hai Duong to China.

With Song Than railway station’s international intermodal transport services, businesses can conduct import-export procedures right at the terminal instead of transporting goods to ports in HCMC or Vung Tau for export to China and Europe.

A total of 16,377ha of land will be used for railway projects in the period through 2030, an increase of 5,644ha compared to today.

Many foreign investors have expressed their interest in railway projects of Vietnam amid the Ministry of Transport (MoT)’s efforts to attract private and foreign investment in railway infrastructure.

As Vietnam aims to build the longest flower path of its kind in the country, many experts and residents have applauded the plan as a potential tourist draw, though concerns over railway safety have also been raised.