The Ministry of Construction recently reported to the Prime Minister, proposing that the Hanoi People's Committee be assigned as the managing agency for two significant railway investment projects. These include the Ngoc Hoi - Kim Son eastern belt railway section and the project to realign the railway line from Phu Xuyen station to Ngoc Hoi station, which also involves building Thuong Tin station and the National Railway Transport Operations Center. Funding for these projects will come from the central budget as part of the medium-term public investment plan.

The Ngoc Hoi - Kim Son eastern belt railway section will originate at the Ngoc Hoi station complex and terminate at Kim Son station, traversing Hanoi, Hung Yen, and Bac Ninh. The main line spans approximately 31,3 km, complemented by 10,3 km of branch lines.

In its initial phase, the project will feature a double-track standard, comprising one 1,435 mm gauge line and one 1,000 mm gauge line, with an estimated preliminary capital of 25.675 trillion VND. The pre-feasibility study report is currently being finalized by the Railway Project Management Board and is expected to be submitted to competent authorities in 2026.

The project to realign the railway line from Phu Xuyen station to Ngoc Hoi station spans approximately 26,5 km and will be developed as a single 1,000 mm gauge line. This project includes two new stations at Thuong Tin and Phu Xuyen, a locomotive enterprise, a freight wagon enterprise, and the National Railway Transport Operations Center, which will be relocated from Hanoi station to Thuong Tin station. The preliminary total investment is estimated at 11.523 trillion VND.

According to the Ministry of Construction, implementing these two projects is crucial for reorganizing the national railway network in southern Hanoi. It also establishes a foundation for relocating the national hub station functions from Hanoi station to the Ngoc Hoi station complex.

To ensure uninterrupted transport operations, the Ministry of Construction proposes that the existing Ngoc Hoi - Yen Vien railway section only be handed over to Hanoi after the completion of these two projects. The city will collaborate with Vietnam Railways Corporation to develop a transport organization plan during the implementation process.

Current state of National Highway 1 before expansion to 10 lanes, with the national railway line on the right. Photo: Pham Chieu

The Ministry of Construction noted that the progress of these railway projects is directly linked to the implementation of the Ngoc Hoi - Yen Vien metro line 1, the Ngoc Hoi - Noi Bai metro line 6, and the National Highway 1 expansion project. This is because these constructions share the same infrastructure corridor as the existing railway line.

If completed during the 2027-2028 period, these projects are expected to alleviate railway infrastructure bottlenecks in southern Hanoi, fostering the synchronized development of the railway network and urban redevelopment.

In late May, Vingroup Group also proposed participating in a series of railway infrastructure projects under public-private partnership (PPP) and build-transfer (BT) contracts. Their proposals include a freight station and a temporary passenger station at Ngoc Hoi to replace Hanoi station. The company also suggested realigning the 1,000 mm gauge railway section from Ngoc Hoi to Phu Xuyen to share a corridor with the high-speed railway, and handing over the land of the existing North-South railway line to facilitate the National Highway 1 expansion project.

The group further proposed constructing the Ngoc Hoi - Kim Son eastern belt railway section with both 1,435 mm and 1,000 mm gauges, which would replace the current Ngoc Hoi - Yen Vien line.

Previously, on 19/5, a consortium comprising Vingroup and three other enterprises had proposed investing in the National Highway 1 spatial axis project, integrated with urban beautification and redevelopment, also under PPP and BT contracts. This project, spanning 36,3 km with a maximum cross-section of 90 m, has an estimated total capital of 162 trillion VND and is projected for completion in 2027.

Anh Duy