The Yen Vien-Ha Long-Cai Lan railway project is a cancelled upgrade and new construction of the Hanoi – Ha Long Railway.
There is currently a railway from Hanoi (Yen Vien Station) to Ha Long via Kep. The train service on this line takes over 7 hours to cover 168 km. The line from Hanoi to Kep is on the duel-gauge railway line to Dong Dang on the border with China. The Kep–Ha Long railway is a standard-gauge line.
The new line was planned to branch off the Yen Vien-Kep line at Lin. The line would be 131 km from Yen Vien to Cai Lan (in Ha Long City), and travel time would be reduced to 1.5-2 hours.
The railway project was composed of four stages:
Yen Vien – Lim
Lim – Pha Lai
Pha Lai – Ha Long
Ha Long – Cai Lan
The project began in 2004 and was expected to be completed by 2010. The project was cancelled in 2011 due to a funding shortage.
The 5.67 km section from Ha Long to Cai Lan Port was completed, while the other sections remain unfinished.
The Yen Vien – Kep – Ha Long railway service is currently suspended due to low passenger numbers.
Hanoi – Ha Long railway map
[Map of Hanoi – Ha Long Railway.]
Photos
[Cai Lan Station in Ha Long City (18/09/20).]
[Cai Lan Station platform (18/09/20).]
News archive
2023
Hanoi-Quang Ninh railway project under reconsideration – [06/02/23]
“The Ministry of Transport is going to reconsider the Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan railway project in 2024 after it has been suspended for nearly 20 years due to investment problems.”
2022
Railway delayed by two decades traps Quảng Ninh residents in deteriorating homes – [27/09/22]
“The 131-km-long railway project was approved in 2004, and construction started the following year. However, the project’s completion has been delayed several times.”
Unfinished railway station turned into parking space, market – [17/09/22]
“Ha Long Station is a part of Ha Long – Cai Lan, a sub-project of the Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan railway construction project. Construction started in 2005, but by October 2011, only the 6-km section of Ha Long – Cai Lan Port – Ban Co Overpass was completed and put in use, while the remaining 120 km was left unfinished due to financial difficulties.”
2019
Few passengers, mounting losses, but Vietnam train route remains on track – [27/07/19]
“Despite annual losses of VND1 billion ($43,000), the Hanoi-Ha Long train runs daily, preventing rail damage and serving small businesses.”
2018
Vietnam’s $330mn railway project becomes construction ruins after a decade abandoned – [15/11/18]
“A massive railway project in northern Vietnam faces an unclear future, having been deserted since 2011 due to a lack of capital, after consuming VND4,556.4 billion (US$195.93 million) funding from government bonds.”
Ministry wants to restart railway project – [21/03/18]
“The Ministry of Transport wants to secure investment from the private sector to complete the Yên Viên – Cái Lân Railway project, which connects Yên Viên Station in Hà Nội with Cái Lân Station in the northern province of Quảng Ninh.”
2017
Ministry eyes northern rail reboot – [08/06/17]
“The Ministry of Transport has proposed that the government invite investment from the private sector to complete the Yên Viên-Hạ Long-Cái Lân railway project.”
Leave a Reply