Choose railways or airports
Many provinces have proposed building their own airports, but if there are high-speed rail routes, many
According to experts, experience in developing high-speed railways in other countries shows that we should invest in new, modern lines instead of renovating and using old infrastructure.
Vietnam will build an industry to master high-speed rail technology
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha noted that investing in high-speed rail is an investment in the future. This is not just a railway or a ship, but the overall goal is to form an entire economic sector to maintain and operate safely and effectively.
Also read: Choose railways or airports » Vietnam News - Latest Updates and World Insights | Vietreader.com
Investing in high-speed rail is investing in the future
On the afternoon of October 12, the Steering Committee for the North-South high-speed railway investment policy project and important national railway projects held its first session. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Head of the Steering Committee, chaired the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, comrade Tran Hong Ha noted that the railway system, including Vietnam's high-speed railway, is currently "missing schedule" with the development requirements of the economy.
Through an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to engineering - science, technology - and economics, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Research Steering Committee to provide viewpoints on the scientific and practical basis for each option from there. Find high-speed railway investment scenarios (technology, safety, speed, scale...) suitable for Vietnam's natural geographical conditions.
The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the project needs to update the latest achievements in science and technology, digital transformation, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT)...
The project must also affirm the role of the high-speed railway as the "backbone" of the North-South corridor, a driving force for economic development by opening up and connecting new development spaces.
The project content must state clear goals based on technical, technological and financial analysis and propose specific jobs and tasks for each level, industry and locality, contributing to forming a modern, synchronous transportation system...
New investments should be made instead of renovating old infrastructure
According to the Ministry of Transport leaders, Vietnam's railways played an important role in economic development from 1980-2005.
However, this mode of transport is gradually losing its role, market share is decreasing, and it cannot compete with other modes.
Vietnam's railway infrastructure needs to be updated, with low technical standards, service quality does not meet demand, has a high potential risk of traffic safety, and human resources are increasingly depleted.
That context poses a requirement to develop high-speed railways, open up new space for sustainable development, effectively use resources, and reduce environmental pollution.
The Ministry of Transport has organized working groups and conducted surveys in many countries with developed high-speed rail systems.
Survey items include investment decision time, investment preparation work, technology and technique selection, exploitation plan, investment model, receiving and transferring technology, developing industry and training human resources, management model…
According to Deputy Minister of Transport Le Danh Huy, the project has been seriously, elaborately and thoroughly researched over a long period, with many comments from ministries, central agencies, localities, governments, experts, researchers, the State Appraisal Council, feedback from society and people.
Deputy Minister Le Danh Huy said that all opinions agree that investing in a new, modern railway line is necessary to meet the increasing transport demand on the North-South axis.
There were also many comments expressing concerns and requests to clarify the scenario for railway development to exploit passengers and goods jointly or alone, scale, speed, ability to mobilize resources, master technology, and localization rate of the railway industry...
According to expert Le Xuan Nghia, experience developing high-speed railways in other countries shows that investing in new modern lines is advisable instead of renovating and using current infrastructure.
This is also an opportunity for the railway industry to master technology and innovate management methods, which are outdated compared to the world.
