The Saigon - Nha Trang railway route is 411.2km long with 36 train stations. As per proposal, this project will help improve railway infrastructure by applying a unified regulatory center and active safety systems, reducing the number of concurrent parking stops, thus increasing the railway throughput by 35-40 percent.
Consequently, that will save energy and reduce costs of repairing moving parts of trains and railways by 15-20 percent.
The project also contributes to ensuring the safety and raising the speed of the train and minimizing the number of accidents owing to preventing the risk of passing red lights, exceeding speed limits, colliding other trains... by using the equipment to protect the train automatically.
Furthermore, it also helps to control the entire work of the train drivers, to assist in early notification of trains approaching the crossroads guarded by sentry men to improve safety at negligible expenses.
In case it is approved, VNR leaders say, the project is expected to be implemented within 18 months. The total cost of equipment, including installation and technical assistance by experts is about US$ 10.83 million, equivalent to VND 245.6 billion (if German equipment is used) or US$ 11 million (nearly VND 250 billion) if German equipment is not used.
The consultant proposed a formula of cooperation in the form of BT (build-transfer), in which investors bear 70% and the Vietnam government invests 30% of the capital. The government will reimburse the investment cost to the investors after the project goes into operation.
According to VNR, if the study and implementation of the project on the Nha Trang – Saigon route prove safe and effective, this will lay the basis for consideration and implementation of other similar projects.
