The modernization of Ho Chi Minh City's urban rail system is a significant step forward for transportation.

DNHN - The Department of Transport of Ho Chi Minh City is examining, revising, and incorporating several urban railway lines and numerous connecting routes into the city's transport plan.

In a remarkable step of the transport development plan, the Department of Transport of Ho Chi Minh City is conducting a study and review of the urban railway network to supplement, extend, and improve railway lines to increase interoperability and connectivity throughout the entire network. The planning includes the addition of three new urban rail lines and the extension of several other routes.

The urban railway system in Ho Chi Minh City will be expanded with three new routes, according to information from a meeting presided over by Mr. Tran Quang Lam, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, with relevant departments and units. The first route is anticipated to connect Tan Son Nhat International Airport with the center of Ho Chi Minh City and the Thu Thiem urban area, with the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway connecting to Long Thanh International Airport.

The second proposed route crosses the Soai Rap River and connects to the Can Gio district and beach encroachment tourist area. This route will connect coastal areas to the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, creating numerous opportunities for tourism development.

The third line connects two national railway hub stations, Thu Thiem station, and Tan Kien station, and provides passenger service. This line is anticipated to be approximately 28 kilometers long and utilize a portion of the alignment previously planned for the monorail along Nguyen Van Linh Street.

In addition to adding 3 urban railway lines, experts propose extending metro line 6 (Ba Queo - Phu Lam roundabout) about 7 kilometers to Nguyen Van Linh Street; connecting metro line 2 - phase 2 (Ben Thanh - Thu Thiem) with Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway, forming an 80-kilometer-long railway corridor from the Northwest urban area - Ben Thanh - Thu Thiem - Long Thanh; and connecting lines 3b and 4

The transfer of the existing national railway passenger terminal (Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City) from Binh Trieu station (Ho Chi Minh City) to the new An Binh station (Binh Duong) is also highly valued in the hope that it will free up land at technical hub stations (Binh Trieu, Chi Hoa...) for the development of the TOD model (Development around a public transport hub).

A representative of the Department of Transport of Ho Chi Minh City stated that the relevant departments, branches, and localities will continue to clarify and unify a variety of contents to adjust and supplement the planning of urban railway lines. These contents will be reported to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for incorporation into the Master Plan of Thu Duc City to 2040 and the Adjustment Project of Ho Chi Minh City's General Construction Planning to 2040 with a vision to 2060.

According to the master plan, when completed, Ho Chi Minh City's urban railway system will consist of 8 urban railway lines, 3 tramway lines or monorail with a total length of approximately 220 kilometers, and an estimated total investment of more than 25 billion US dollars. Currently, the city has implemented two successful metro lines: metro No. 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien and metro No. 2 Ben Thanh - Tham Luong.

Nevertheless, achieving the goal of completing the remaining urban railway network within the next 12 years will be extremely difficult, necessitating drastic changes, determination, and comprehensive breakthroughs on the part of the city.

The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board has proposed establishing a Working Group to develop an urban railway system development project to study and implement specific mechanisms and policies to rapidly deploy projects that meet requirements and expeditiously complete the Ho Chi Minh City urban railway network.

Huu Uong