Investment for Trans-Vietnam Railway

VNA July 12, 1999 - The railway service has so far attracted four foreign-invested projects on upgrading bridges, signal system and tunnels of the trans-Vietnam railway.

Japanese investors have involved in a project worth nearly JPY 5.5 billion (US $43.6 million) to upgrade eight bridges. Upgrade of the bridges including the Da Rang bridge, 1,603 metres long, in Phu Yen province, the biggest on the trans-Vietnam route, started early this year and is expected to be completed next year.

Another Japan-invested project to restore 10 bridges on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City railway has been approved by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The JPY 8 billion (US $64 million) project is being designed and scheduled to be finished in 2005 at the latest.

A project to renew the traffic signal system on the Hanoi-Vinh railway, with investment capital of FRF 58 million (US $9 million) from France, has been proposed to the Government for approval. Upon completion of the project, France will invest FRF 52 million (US $8.16 million) in another project, to repair four tunnels in the Hai Van pass.