HCMC – The Ministry of Transport has assigned the Vietnam Railway Project Management Board to make preparations for the HCMC-Can Tho Railway project with an estimated cost of US$9 billion.

The railway, starting at An Binh station in Binh Duong Province to Can Tho station and passing through six cities and provinces, comprising Binh Duong, HCMC, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long and Can Tho, has a total length of 174 kilometers.

The project will have 15 stations and 11 maintenance workshops.

The route will be used to transport passengers at a maximum design speed of 190kph and the speed limit for cargo transport will be 120kph.

The consultant proposed that the project should be invested under the public-private partnership format, in which the Government will compensate for site clearance and the investor will raise capital for infrastructure construction, testing and transferring for the Government.

The Vietnam Railway Project Management Board is now working with the local authorities to approve the route and location of the stations.

According to a representative of the Vietnam Railway Project Management Board, given that the railway will pass through big and crowded cities, they are considering linkages with other means of transportation to ensure the effectiveness of the project.

The railway from HCMC to Can Tho, included in the national railway network for 2021-2025, with a vision by 2050, is projected to be constructed by 2030. The competent authorities and relevant localities are therefore expediting preparations for the project investment before 2025.