On the afternoon of November 20, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the investment policy for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis.
Previously, the Ministry of Transport had explained and clarified groups of issues regarding the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project.
Accordingly, some delegates said that initially, it is possible to study at a more suitable speed of 250km/h, to carry both passengers and goods.
Regarding the above content, the Ministry of Transport stated that the choice of speed has been carefully and comprehensively researched, synthesizing experience in developing high-speed railways.
Research results show that the speed of 200-250km/h was developed about 50 years ago and was popular in the period about 25 years ago, suitable for short and medium routes.
“Speeds of 350km/h and higher are a development trend in the world, suitable for routes of 800km or more, with many densely populated urban areas such as the North-South corridor of our country,” the report of the Ministry of Transport stated.
World experience also shows that with a length of 800km, a speed of 350km/h is more attractive and has the ability to attract more passengers than a speed of 250km/h.
According to the consultant's calculation, on the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route, a speed of 350km/h is likely to attract about 12.5% more passengers than a speed of 250km/h; the investment cost for a speed of 350km/h is about 8-9% higher than a speed of 250km/h.
However, if investing at a speed of 250km/h, upgrading to a speed of 350km/h is difficult to implement and ineffective.
Therefore, it is recommended to choose a design speed of 350km/h for the North-South high-speed railway to meet the criteria of modernity, synchronization, long-term vision, efficiency, and suitability with the geo-economic conditions of our country.
