The Philippine Government is intensifying its plan to extend the national railway network from the current 77km to 1,900km in three years, which is the centre of the country’s economic development policy (Photo: www.autoindustriya.com) Manila (VNA) – The Philippine Government is intensifying its plan to extend the national railway network from the current 77km to 1,900km in three years, which is the centre of the country’s economic development policy. Accordingly, authorities are expected to complete six out of 10 rail projects by June 2022, which marks the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s current term. The Duterte administration has so far invested heavily in construction projects, aiming to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure”. In 2018, the Philippines was estimated to increase its spending on infrastructure to be at 6.2 percent of the national GDP, the highest rate since 1993. Currently, only three of the 10 projects are underway: the … [Read more...] about Philippines pushes for railway extension work
Railway construction project
First short steps into private railway sector
Further planning and a completed regulatory framework are required to encourage private investment in railways Despite several months passing, state-owned railway giant Vietnam Railways (VNR), the operator of all train lines in the country, is still waiting for the Ministry of Transport’s (MoT) approval regarding the investment plans on two new projects: upgrading the Vinh-Nha Trang route and the Nha Trang-Saigon route. Receiving such late approval may delay the ground-breaking until the end of 2019 at the earliest, instead of the June 2019 date as previously planned. Thus far, the MoT is said to have approved the investment plan of only the Hanoi-Vinh section, which is to be one of two carried out by the Project Management Unit (PMU-Rail). This section is to be one of the four projects funded by the VND7 trillion ($304.35 million) G-bond bundle. At present, PMU-Rail is planning ahead for the Hanoi-Vinh project. The building, appraisal and approval of the feasibility study, … [Read more...] about First short steps into private railway sector
Koreas discuss groundbreaking ceremony for rail, road reconnection project
SEOUL — South and North Korea held working-level talks on Thursday to set up a groundbreaking ceremony for their project to modernise North Korean railways and roads and connect them to the South. President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed at their third summit in Pyongyang in September to hold a ceremony before the end of the year to break ground for the project to reconnect two sets of cross-border railways and roads. Thursday’s meeting took place at the two Koreas’ liaison office in the North’s border town of Kaesong to work out details of the envisioned ceremony, including when and where to hold it, as well as the possible participants of the event, according to the unification ministry. "We’ve outlined our idea and the talks are expected to proceed based on the North’s take on the suggestion," a ministry official told reporters. Four officials from each side -- including Kim Chang-su, a deputy chief of the liaison … [Read more...] about Koreas discuss groundbreaking ceremony for rail, road reconnection project
VND8.2 trillion needed to restore Thap Cham-Dalat railway
VND8.2 trillion needed to restore Thap Cham-Dalat railwayThe Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Bach Dang Company has proposed the Ninh Thuan government restore the long-forgotten Thap Chap-Dalat railway. The project can be built under a public-private partnership scheme, at a cost of an estimated VND8.2 trillion, reported Thanh Nien newspaper. Work on the project, which was presented by the company at a meeting with Ninh Thuan authorities on September 27, is expected to start at Thap Cham Station in Ninh Thuan Province and end at Dalat Station in Lam Dong Province. The 84-kilometer rail line will be restored using the old railway tracks in accordance with approved technical standards. Bach Dach Company is in the process of updating the plan and surveying and collecting feedback from localities to complete a prefeasibility study, which will be submitted to the relevant departments and ministries for approval. The Thap Cham-Dalat railway was designed and constructed by the French from … [Read more...] about VND8.2 trillion needed to restore Thap Cham-Dalat railway
Malaysian PM to scrap China-backed $22 bn projects
The projects include a railway connecting Malaysia's east coast to southern Thailand and Kuala Lumpur, and two gas pipelines. "I explained to (the Chinese leaders) why we can't have the ECRL (East Coast Rail Link)," Mahathir told Malaysian reporters at the end of his five-day visit. "It's about borrowing too much money, which we cannot afford, we cannot repay, and also because we don't need those projects for Malaysia at this moment... our problem now is how to solve our financial deficit." Mahathir is trying to reduce Malaysia's national debt, which has ballooned to some $250 billion. After meeting Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, Mahathir said he believed China would help Malaysia resolve its fiscal problems. The Malaysian leader also warned against "a new version of colonialism happening because poor countries are unable to compete with rich countries just in terms of open free trade." The $20 billion rail project was contracted with China's largest engineering firm, China … [Read more...] about Malaysian PM to scrap China-backed $22 bn projects
North-South express railway project being accelerated
North-South express railway project being acceleratedThe Saigon Times Daily HCMC – The Association of General Consultants presented a plan and process for researching the cross-country high-speed railway, separated from the national railway network, to the Minister of Transport at a meeting on August 16, reported Lao Dong newspaper. The north-south express track, with a length of 1,545 kilometers, is expected to run from Hanoi City to HCMC, crossing 20 provinces and cities. The project, designed to avoid complicated and rough regions, is slated to have 23 railway stations and five depots. Speaking at the meeting, a representative of the association introduced an effective model for the project and emphasized the deployment of passenger and cargo trains and their connectivity, in addition to proposing the application of suitable technology, as well as adjusting train speeds and investment methods. Addressing the meeting, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The asked the transport … [Read more...] about North-South express railway project being accelerated
Japan seeks involvement in Vietnam’s major railway, airport projects
By Dat Nguyen  August 13, 2018 | 02:47 pm GMT+7 Layout plan for Long Thanh terminal. Photo by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam Vietnam's key transportation projects have drawn special interest from Japanese investors. Japan is interested in the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province - whose construction the government wants to start soon - Japan's Secretary of State Tsukasa Akimototold Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong at a recent meeting. It also wants to invest in Vietnam's high-speed north-south railway, Akimoto noted. The Ministry of Transport is set to report on the high-speed railway to the National Assembly next year, Minister Dong said. It is also consulting various agencies, including Japanese, on a feasibility study for Long Thanh Airport, which is expected to be approved by the government at the end of next year, he added. Long Thanh Airport is set to be built in three phases over three decades. The … [Read more...] about Japan seeks involvement in Vietnam’s major railway, airport projects
Vietnam’s railway sector set to pick up PPP steam
Vietnam’s railways have been suffering from low capital, but are now becoming more attractive to foreign investment, Photo: Le Toan Vietnam’s forgotten railway industry Vaibhav Saxena Railways are one of the essential means of transport in Vietnam. The railway industry has seen enormous development in infrastructure and technology and become dominant in mid-length and long-length transportation, and especially in freight transportation. The quality of railway infrastructure, telecommunication systems, and other auxiliary elements is too retrograde, which results in a warning in terms of the number of railway passengers. This situation can be attributed to two facts: (i) Vietnam Railways (VNR), a state-owned enterprise (SOE), held a monopoly in the industry, and (ii) the government overlooked the potential of railway transport, pouring little investment into it. Now, realising the need to re-construct this sector, the government has promulgated a new policy and … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s railway sector set to pick up PPP steam
Hanoi Party official inspects progress of urban railway project
Construction site of the Hanoi train station - Nhon urban metro rail project in Cau Giay district. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Hoang Trung Hai, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, led an inspection group to examine the progress of the Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station urban rail project on May 6. Built at a total cost of 1.176 billion EUR, the Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station project has a total length of 12.5km, comprising an 8.5km aerial track that will connect Nhon depot with Thu Le Zoo and a 4km-long underground track that will link Thu Le with the Hanoi Railway Station. The line will start at Nhon and reach Cau Giay via Highway 32 and Ho Tung Mau and Xuan Thuy streets. It will also pass through Kim Ma, Nui Truc and Quoc Tu Giam streets. The last stop will be the Hanoi Railway Station at the T-junction of Le Duan and Tran Hung Dao streets. At a meeting with the working group as part of the inspection, Nguyen Cao Minh, head of the municipal urban rail project management board, … [Read more...] about Hanoi Party official inspects progress of urban railway project
Government guarantees capital for HCM City metro project
The project construction is now on schedule, he said. The No 1 Metro project is one of the eight metro lines of HCM City Metro project managed by the city’s Management Authority for Urban Railways. The project includes four major bidding packages using ODA (Official Development Assistance) and funds from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). An elevated section of HCM City’s Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line runs along Hanoi Highway. HCM City Metro project was the first proposed in 2001 as part of a comprehensive public transport plan for HCM City and neighbouring provinces to mitigate traffic congestion. It also includes three monorail lines with a total length of 37km and six partly underground metro routes running a total of 107km from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien, Ben Thanh to Tham Luong, Ben Thanh to Binh Tan, Lang Cha Ca to Van Thanh, Thu Thiem to Can Giuoc, and Ba Queo – Phu Lam. Ben Thanh will be a hub … [Read more...] about Government guarantees capital for HCM City metro project