The Hanoi Department of Construction recently announced that the city is expediting steps to fulfill its plan of developing 15 urban railway lines with a total length of approximately 600 km by 2045.

Currently, the city is finalizing necessary procedures to begin construction in 2025 on two metro lines: Line 2 (Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao), 11.5 km in length, and Line 5 (Van Cao - Hoa Lac), spanning 38.43 km.

These efforts align with Resolution 188 issued by Hanoi’s People's Committee, which outlines a three-phase plan for urban railway development.

Between 2024 and 2030, the city aims to complete around 96.8 km of metro lines, including Lines 2, 3, and 5. Simultaneously, investment preparation will be conducted for 301 km of additional lines: Line 1, Line 2A extended to Xuan Mai, Lines 4, 6, 7, 8, and a line connecting satellite cities. The estimated capital requirement for this phase is around 14.6 billion USD.

During the 2031–2035 phase, Hanoi plans to complete construction of another 301 km of metro lines, with a projected capital need of approximately 22.57 billion USD. Once complete, the metro network will handle 35–40% of the city’s public transportation demand.

From 2036 to 2045, the city will finish the remaining 200.7 km of lines based on revised Capital Planning and General Planning schemes. This phase is expected to require about 18.25 billion USD.

Developing a robust metro system not only eases urban traffic congestion but also fosters sustainable and modern urban development. Once complete, the metro network will serve as the backbone of Hanoi’s public transit system and a key growth engine for the inner city and surrounding satellite towns.

Dang Huy Dong, Director of the Institute for Planning and Development Research, emphasized that completing the metro system within just 12 years is a daunting task. It may even prove unfeasible without implementing TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) models around metro stations. He also stressed the need for a special administrative framework that surpasses current regulations on investment and construction management.

According to Dong, if Hanoi continues to rely solely on ODA loans without new financial mechanisms, it will not be able to proactively accomplish this historic mission. He asserted that TOD must be implemented to generate funding, with TOD zoning used to auction investment rights in these areas.

17,509 billion VND industrial railway complex proposed

Hanoi’s People’s Committee has submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister for the location, scope, and boundaries of a planned railway industry complex in the southern region of Hanoi (covering the communes of Chuyen My and Ung Hoa), with an estimated area of 250 hectares.

Previously, Vietnam Railways Corporation had proposed the project for investment policy approval by competent authorities.

According to the proposal, the railway industry complex will include multi-functional facilities: a plant for manufacturing, assembling vehicles and components; a research center; a maintenance and repair center; infrastructure connected to the national railway; and auxiliary works.

The preliminary total investment for the railway industry complex is 17,509 billion VND (approximately 686 million USD). Public funding will be used for building the railway connection to the national system, technical infrastructure, the R&D center, and other government-supported components. State capital injected into the enterprise will be used for constructing the assembly plant and related facilities, while private investors will be invited to participate through joint ventures.

If approved, the project will begin investment preparation within one year, with construction taking three years, targeting phase-one completion by 2029.

Vietnam Railways Corporation stated the complex aims to develop domestic production capacity, gradually localizing hardware and software components related to signaling, communication, and power systems. The project will help master operations, maintenance, and gradually produce spare parts for high-speed rail systems. It also seeks to transfer technology, procure machinery, and manufacture locomotives and carriages for national railways (under 200 km/h), as well as acquire designs for urban railway production.

The project will also include zones dedicated to major overhauls of all railway vehicles and equipment, focusing initially on national and urban rail networks.

N. Huyen