Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has asked the Vietnam Railways Corporation to prepare plans to invest in vehicles and equipment to improve railway infrastructure and meet growing demand for international rail freight transport.

He made the request following the Ministry of Transport (MoT) submitting a plan to increase international rail freight by 2030, with a target of shipping between 4 and 5 million tons.

The MoT is required to take full responsibility for train stations conducting international transport operations.

Localities have been instructed to coordinate to implement plans to improve Vietnam’s international rail transport capacity.

In its plan submitted to the government in November, the MoT said the investment process to boost railway infrastructure will be divided into two phases.

The first phase, from 2022 to 2025, will see the mobilization of about VND3.5 trillion ($141.13 million) from the State budget to upgrade seven train stations, warehouses, container yards, and locomotives.

The second phase, from 2026-2030, will see the building of international railway stations along the North-South and East-West corridors.