Accidents continue to occur in self-opened level crossings
Recently, there have been serious railway accidents in Hanoi, many of which have occurred at spontaneous residential crossings.
Most recently, on the afternoon of June 14, 2025, near Van Dien station, a woman suddenly crossed the railway and was hit by a North-South train. Previously, on February 10, 2025, in Van Giap commune, a woman driving a motorbike was hit by the Thong Nhat train; on April 16, 2025, a woman riding a motorbike from lane 268 Ngoc Hoi to the national highway collided with the SE9 train, dying on the spot.
According to statistics, Hanoi currently has 6 railway lines passing through with about 450 intersections, of which up to 270 crossings were opened by people. These are "black spots" with a potential risk of serious railway traffic accidents. Although Decision No. 358 of the Prime Minister requires the removal of all self-opened crossings before the end of 2025, up to now, the implementation progress is still sluggish, while the goal of reducing railway accidents by 5-15% seems unfeasible.
Recordings along the North-South route through Hanoi show that the situation of people arbitrarily opening crossings across the railway is still rampant. More than 1.2km of railway through Van Dien town alone has dozens of illegal intersections.
Difficulty in clearing self-opened crossings across the railway
However, thoroughly handling illegal paths still faces many difficulties. Up to now, Hanoi has only fenced off more than 70 walkways and built about 2km of service roads and protective fences. While waiting for the service road projects to continue to be implemented, the authorities are still maintaining inspections, handling violations, and propagating and reminding people. However, this is only a temporary solution.
On June 17, 2025, according to the plan of the Ministry of Public Security and Hanoi City Police, the Traffic Police Department coordinated with units to organize the closure of 5 self-opened crossings in Van Dien town - which is identified as a hot spot for railway safety.
A representative of Hanoi City Police said that the construction of the service road is still facing difficulties due to lack of land fund, funding, site clearance... The unit is proposing more feasible options to ensure traffic for people, while limiting the risk of accidents.
Previously, the City Police also reviewed and proposed that the ward leaders remove 9 self-opened paths in the area.
Director of the Vietnam Railway Authority - Mr. Tran Thien Canh - emphasized: "To completely address the risk of railway accidents, it is necessary to soon arrange capital to build level crossings, underpasses, and residential access roads; at the same time, orient people to move in the right place, not to illegally cross the railway".
