Japan, VN experts estimate railway will cost $60 billion

Vietnamese and Japanese experts estimated an investment capital of nearly US$55.8 billion for a project on a new north - south express railway in the country at a recent conference held by Viet Nam Railways.

Viet Nam and Japan’s joint consulting venture gathered experts from Viet Nam’s Transport Investment and Construction Consultant Joint Stock Company, and three partners from Japan, including Japan Transportation Consultant Inc, Japan Railway Technical Service and Nippon Koei.

The north-south route will be 1,555km long with 27 stations and will allow trains to travel at 350km per hour. The line will begin at Ha Noi Station and end in Hoa Hung Station in HCM City.

The route’s sections from Ha Noi to Vinh City in central Nghe An Province and from HCM City to Nha Trang are expected to be in use by 2020. The Ha Noi -HCM City stretch is scheduled to open in 2035. It is hoped that the train fares will cost the same as flights.

VietNamNet, VNS

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