The obsession from the trails across the railway
Reality shows that self-opened walkways (without barriers, without traffic lights) always pose a high risk of accidents. Most recently, on the evening of March 8, a motorcyclist died on the spot after colliding with a train while passing through a self-opened level crossing in alley 210 Ngoc Hoi (Hanoi).
However, according to functional forces, many spontaneous walkways have existed for a long time and are the only road leading to residential areas. The removal of these open paths requires the construction of a service road system to ensure walkways for people. This is an item that requires large capital and long-term investment time, so it requires the synchronous involvement of all levels and sectors from central to local levels.
Previously, on the evening of March 6, at the intersection between the North-South railway line and provincial road 628 (Quang Ngai), passenger train SE8 collided head-on with a tractor-trailer when this vehicle tried to overcome a barrier and got stuck on the tracks.
The collision caused the locomotive to be heavily damaged, the truck to break in half, and two people were injured. Railway traffic on the North-South line had to be temporarily stopped for many hours to handle the scene.
Statistics from the railway industry show that there are still thousands of intersections nationwide that pose potential safety risks. The North-South route alone has more than 1,000 locations assessed as at risk of traffic accidents, in which many spontaneous people's walkways have not been installed with barriers or automatic warning systems.
The Vietnam Railways Authority said that most accidents occur when traffic participants intentionally cross the railway tracks even though warning signals have been issued. Because the train has a large inertia and a long braking distance, when detecting obstacles on the railway tracks, the train driver can hardly stop in time.
Decisively handle violations
In early March 2026, the Traffic Police Department of Da Nang City Police strengthened patrols at intersections and self-opened walkways, handling 37 violations such as crossing barriers when there was a warning signal, stopping and parking vehicles within railway safety, encroaching on traffic corridors.
Previously, a crane truck driver was also fined 4 million VND for violating railway safety limits when lifting a green tree near the railway track, causing passenger train SE2 to be urgently stopped and collision occurred.
The railway industry said that safety assurance work is currently being coordinated by many units, from the Vietnam Railways Authority, Vietnam Railways Corporation to infrastructure maintenance enterprises. Forces regularly patrol the safety corridor, coordinate with local authorities to remove self-opened walkways and install additional barriers and warning signs at dangerous points.
According to the assessment of the Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security), Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ho Chi Minh City are three localities that have implemented drastically and achieved high handling results in ensuring railway traffic order and safety.
According to Captain Tran Xuan Lam - officer of Road Traffic Police Team No. 14 (Traffic Police Department of Hanoi City Police), the act of intentionally crossing barriers when a train is about to arrive always poses a very high risk to people's lives and property. In addition to strengthening propaganda, functional forces are also proposing to the authorities of Hoang Liet, Dai Thanh and Thanh Tri localities to soon have a plan to close about 40 spontaneous openings on the railway line passing through the area.
In Hanoi, the "railway coffee street" area is still a hot spot. Over the past time, in order to attract tourists, some travel agencies have organized tours to take tourists, especially foreign tourists, to visit and take photos in the area near the railway tracks. From there, many spontaneous "railway coffee street" business points have formed, posing a risk of traffic unsafety.
Records of Lao Dong Newspaper reporters on March 9 show that tourists still flock to this area quite crowded. In some sections from Dien Bien Phu - Tran Phu and Tran Phu - Phung Hung, many shops arrange tables and chairs close to the railway tracks. Traffic police forces are regularly present to remind, propagate and handle parking behaviors within railway safety boundary.
The commander of Road Traffic Police Team No. 1 said that in recent days, dozens of households and businesses along the route that violated the railway safety corridor and urban order have voluntarily dismantled signboards, canopies, platforms and violating decorative lighting systems.
Hanoi City Police also recommends that people, tourists and business establishments continue to strictly comply with the provisions of law on railway traffic safety corridors; do not encroach on roads, sidewalks, and safety corridors for business. Thereby contributing to building a civilized and safe tourism environment and ensuring traffic order and safety in the Capital.
