HCMC promotes key railway projects to boost regional connectivity

Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating two important railway projects, which  are expected to create a transport corridor connecting the Mekong Delta and the Southern region with the city's international seaports, opening up opportunities for logistics development and urban growth in southern Vietnam.

During a meeting on October 1 with Chairman of the city People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc, representatives from Becamex IDC reported on the implementation of several railway projects, including: a high-speed railway project connecting Ho Chi Minh City's central part to Can Tho city in the Mekong Delta; and another that will connect Bau Bang with Cai Mep in the former province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau (now part of Ho Chi Minh City),   as well as an urban railway (metro) project integrated with Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and underground urban space exploitation.

The HCM City - Can Tho line will be approximately 174 km long, with a total investment of over VND173.6 trillion (nearly $6.6 billion) for phase 1. It is designed for passenger trains at a speed of 200 km/h and freight trains at 160 km/h.

Becamex IDC expected that this railway line will become the "green transport backbone" of the South and a "golden premise" for the North-South high-speed railway, serving as a crucial link for transporting goods and agricultural products from the Mekong Delta to industrial centers and international seaports in Ho Chi Minh City

Regarding the Bau Bang – An Binh – Cai Mep railway line, its starting point is Bau Bang Station (part of the projected Ho Chi Minh City – Loc Ninh railway line) and its end point is Tien Cang Thi Vai Station (part of the projected Bien Hoa - Vung Tau railway line). The total length of the section from Bau Bang to Cai Mep - Thi Vai port and its branches to the ports is approximately 136.65 km. The line is planned to have 16 main stations and 4 stations within ports and logistics centers.

The An Binh - Cai Mep section has been designed to connect with the planned Cai Mep Ha Logistics Center, with the goal of building a regional and international scale transshipment hub, connecting with the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster and surrounding industrial parks. This line is expected to directly connect the industrial zones in the former provinces Binh Duong and Dong Nai with the deep-water port cluster of Cai Mep - Thi Vai, creating an advantage in maritime transport.