Engineering firm proposes skytrain route for Hanoi

Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Corporation (VINACONEX) has proposed building a build-operate-transfer (BOT) skytrain route to ease traffic congestion in the west of the capital.

The 38km monorail route will run from Van Cao to Nguyen Chi Thanh, Tran Duy Hung and Lang-Hoa Lac streets.

The skytrain’s abutments will be at least 4.5 metres above ground, 1 metre wide and 30 metres apart. The proposed project will have 14 stations.

Trains will travel at an average speed of 70 kilometres per hour and be capable of transporting about 6,000 passengers per day.

General manager of the Vinaconex Xuan Mai Company Dang Hoang Huy said skytrains were ideal for urban areas because they could pass above flyovers and down to ground level.

According to Huy, the ticket prices will be affordable for office workers and students.

He said the $8 million investment capital would take tens of years to recoup.

Huy said the company had proposed building a monorail as opposed to a two-track skytrain because the latter would cost $50 million.

“The transport capacity of the monorail train is obviously less than that for the two-track option but we can get around that by adding more trains,” Huy said.

He added that Vinaconex would enlarge the skytrain route if the proposed scheme proved successful.

The Government has asked the Ministry of Transport to look into the feasibility of the project.

Tags: skytrain route, Vietnam transportation