According to Vietnam Railways Corporation, on 2/2, during a routine patrol, employees of Ha Hai Railway Joint Stock Company identified damage at the upper chord steel truss joint between cells 10 and 11, located on span 18 of Long Bien Bridge. An inspection revealed that the contact steel plate at this location was completely severed, and the upper chord bars had separated at two upper and lower truss joints. This damage poses a potential risk to the bridge's structure and ongoing railway transport operations.

Immediately after discovering the incident, Vietnam Railways Corporation decided to block the Hanoi - Gia Lam section to facilitate urgent repairs and reinforcement. Effective 5/2, all trains were prohibited from crossing Long Bien Bridge.

Operational adjustments have been implemented for passenger trains on the Hanoi - Hai Phong route, which now pick up and drop off passengers at Gia Lam station instead of Hanoi station. Passenger trains on the Hanoi - Lao Cai route continue to serve Hanoi station, but their route is adjusted to Hanoi - Van Dien - Ha Dong - Lao Cai and vice versa, bypassing Long Bien Bridge. For freight transport, trains must detour via Thang Long Bridge to access the Bac Hong - Van Dien belt line.

Concurrent with the operational adjustments, construction and consulting teams mobilized a temporary support system using shaped steel pile columns to brace the damaged truss joint. Repairs are underway, including fixing and replacing the contact steel plates and the upper chord steel truss joint on span 18.

The replacement of the contact steel plates is scheduled for completion by 11/2. Following this, Vietnam Railways Corporation will conduct load testing on the bridge. If the load test results confirm safety requirements, the railway sector will permit light trains to operate across the bridge at a strictly limited speed.

Temporary support system being installed to brace the damaged truss joint. Photo: VNR

Nguyen Quoc Vuong, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation, stated that Long Bien Bridge has undergone numerous repairs and reinforcements. However, due to its one hundred twenty-four years of operation and damage sustained during wartime, the steel structure shows rust, and many truss end bars and joint plates exhibit cross-sectional wear, leading to many unpredictable underlying damages. Before the incident, the bridge operated at a restricted speed of 15 km/h.

Long Bien Bridge, which spans the Red River, began construction in 1899 and was inaugurated in 1902. After more than a century of use, many components of the bridge have deteriorated. Currently, the bridge is undergoing comprehensive repairs; the railings and road surface are complete, while the piers and underside of the bridge continue to receive technical reinforcement.

Doan Loan