1. Master plan on development of railway transportation must be in line with strategy of transportation development of Vietnam, strategy of railway transportation development of Vietnam; closely linking with development plans of other transport fields and other related plans.

2. To prioritize to focus on investing in railway infrastructure on basis of combining rehabilitation and upgrading of existing infrastructure with investing in constructing newly, sustainably, step by step, being a impetus for socio-economic development of the country; developing railway network to connect with major sea ports, industrial parks and bordering countries to promote international integration; rapidly developing urban railway network to be a core of public transport in major cities, in short time, giving priority to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

3. To focus on investment in upgrading and gradually put existing railway routes into technical level under priority order in order to promote key role of railway transport on passengers and cargo transport on North – South axis, East – West axis. At the same time, combining synchronous development of railway infrastructure with transport vehicles, equipment management, transport operation under a reasonable schedule in a period up to 2020 and in a period of 2020 - 2030 in order to effectively exploit existing railway routes.

4. Development of new railway routes must select advanced technical standards, ensuring sustainable development, being able to connect with domestic and foreign railway network.

5. To gradually increase market share railway transport and develop railway transport towards a modern, high-quality, affordable, fast, safe, energy saving, environmental protection, social cost savings manner; linking with commodity distribution center, huge seaports, dry ports (ICDs) and other transport modes; undertaking cargo transport with huge volumes, long distance, medium distance, long distance, interprovincial passenger transport, public passenger transport in major cities, focusing on internal –suburban passenger transport services to meet demand of socio-economic development.

6. To strongly develop multi-modal transport, logistics service and other projects of supporting cargo transport; mounting railway transport business with business of non railway transport in railway stations to create maximum convenience for passengers and cargo transport.

7. To focus the State’s resources, take advantage of foreign development assistance sources on investment in essential infrastructure; encouraging and mobilizing all resources of foreign and domestic organizations, individuals to invest in development of infrastructure, railway transport and services of supporting railway transport; attaching great importance to maintenance of existing and post-construction infrastructure to ensure efficient, smooth, order, safety exploitation and sustainable development.
8. To reserve land area which are suitable for railway development requirements, ensuring safety corridors of railway transport and scope of railway work protection in accordance with the Law on Railways. Developing plans of using electric energy which are suitable with development requirements of railway. Protecting environment, ensuring green growth and actively respond to climate change.
9. To develop reasonable human resources and science - technology under specific agenda to meet requirements of industrialization - modernization of railways in different periods; enhancing international cooperation, build foundation for development of railway industry to serve better domestic demand and look toward exporting its products.
II. Development objectives

1. To develop railway transportation synchronously in infrastructure, facilities, transportation service and industry to reach advanced, modern level, promoting growth of other economic sectors, aiming at target of Vietnam basically becoming an industrialized nation by 2020.

2. To prepare necessary conditions to gradually establish a complete railway network which links socio-economic centers, key economic regions of the country and combine with other modes of transport; participating in public transportation in urban areas and huge cities; providing services of urban, suburban, inter-regional and long distance railway transport smooth, fast, safe, competitive to meet domestic demand, international exchanges and ensuring national defense - security.

3. To issue special, attractive mechanisms to encourage all economic sectors to invest in construction and doing business of railway infrastructure, railway transport and service of supporting railway transport.

4. To increase investment in technical facilities, renovating training program and expanding forms of training, improving activities of training socialization to ensure high quality human resources to serve well requirements of developing modern railway.

III. Master plan on railway transport development of Vietnam to 2020 with a vision to 2030
1. Railway transport:
1.1. Transport market share:

- By 2020: railway transport meet about 1.00% - 2.00% of demand of passenger transport and about 1.00% - 3.00% of demand of freight transport in total transport volume of entire transport sector; out of which, urban passenger transport by railway meet about 4.00% - 5.00% of demand of public passenger transport in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- By 2030: railway transport meets approximately 3.00% - 4.00% of passenger transport demand and about 4.00% - 5.00% of freight transport demand in total transport volume of entire transportation sector; out of which, urban passenger transport by railway meet about 15% - 20% of demand of public passenger transport in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
1.2. Passenger transport: focus on developing long-distance transport services with a distance of 300 kilometers to 500 kilometers in North - South axis, East - West axis and urban railway transport services, urban- suburban railway, inter-provincial railway on basis of efficient exploitation of existing railway system and newly constructed railway.
1.3. Cargo transport: developing rapidly huge quantity transport services from mines, ports, ICD, factories, huge economic zones ... to reduce pressure on roads, limiting traffic accidents and applying modern technology to meet increasing demands of customers.

1.4. To improve competitiveness of transport services on basis of accelerating equalization of railway transport enterprises, socialization of railway transport in order to improve service quality, lower cost of transport. Attracting economic sectors to participate in development of railway transport and services of supporting railway transport, strengthening the State management on railway transport.
1.5. To expand international, regional transport links and between neighboring countries on basis of existing and future railway network.

2. Railway infrastructure:
2.1. By 2020:

To focus on investment in upgrading and gradually putting existing railway route into technical level, out of which, giving priority to upgrade and modernize railway route of Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City. Developing urban railway in major cities, out of which, giving priority to focus on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Researching to build newly railway route of 1,435 millimeter linking Ho Chi Minh City with Vung Tau city and Ho Chi Minh City with Can Tho city. Researching to build new railway sections: connecting with Trans-Asia railway, railway of Laos; linking with Central Highlands provinces to serve mining and production of alumina - aluminum; connecting with seaport and major economic zones. Continuing to study feasibility plan to have plan of investing in construction of suitable high-speed railway route on North - South axis, railway of two corridors, one economic belt of Vietnam - China. Specifically as follows:

- For existing railway network:
+ To upgrade, gradually modernize railway route of Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City with a length of about 1,726 kilometers to achieve an average speed of 80 kilometers/hour to 90 kilometers/hour for passenger trains and 50 kilometers/hour to 60 kilometers/hour for cargo ships; in short time, concentrating efforts on improving railway section in areas of Hai Van pass, Khe Net pass, Hoa Duyet – Thanh Luyen area; renovating and upgrading weak bridge, weak basement; renovating railway route, opening more railway line in railway stations, extending railway line in railway stations...;

+ To renovate, upgrade and gradually putting national railway routes into technical level: Yen Vien - Lao Cai of a length of 285 kilometers; Hanoi (Gia Lam) – Hai Phong of a length of 96 kilometers; Ha Noi (Dong Anh) – Thai Nguyen (Quan Trieu) of a length of 54.6 kilometers; Ha Noi (Yen Vien) - Lang Son (Dong Dang) of a length of 156 kilometers;

+ To renovate and upgrade railway stations which have great transport demand to improve service quality and increase transport market share of railways, giving priority to railway routes of Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City and Yen Vien - Lao Cai;

+ To gradually remove living crossroad, build a system of defense crossroads, frontage roads, isolation barrier, safety corridor barrier, overpass bridge at intersection with national road and provincial road which have huge traffic volumes, high risk of losing traffic safety in order to establish safe corridors across the wholly system.
- For newly constructed railway:

+ To complete and put into operation, using entire railway route of Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan with a length of 129 kilometers;
+ High-speed railway route on North - South axis: researching to build high-speed, double track railway of 1,435 millimeters size, out of which, prepare necessary conditions to give priority to gradually build railway sections having huge transport demand, especially areas connecting with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City such as section of Hanoi - Vinh and Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang;
+ To research, build railway routes: east belt route (Yen Vien - Lac Dao - Ngoc Hoi with a length of about 80 kilometers) in hub areas of Ha Noi; railway route of Bien Hoa - Vung Tau (out of which, giving priority to railway section of Trang Bom - Thi Vai with a length of 65.4 kilometers); railway route linking Hai Phong seaport - Lach Huyen with a length of 32.65 kilometers;

+ To research and build railways: Lao Cai – Ha Noi - Hai Phong, Hanoi - Dong Dang, Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho (giving priority to railway section of Ho Chi Minh City - My Tho), Dak Nong - Chon Thanh (with a length of 67 kilometers), Di An - Loc Ninh (with a length of 128 kilometers) to connect to Trans-Asia railway, Vung Ang - Cha Lo (Mu Gia) (with a length of 67 kilometers) to connect with railway of Laos in Mu Gia.

- For urban railway: completing and put into operation a number of urban railways in Ha Noi (Cat Linh - Ha Dong, Nhon - Hanoi railway station) and Ho Chi Minh City (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien); preparing and implementing investment in planned railway routes which have been approved by the Prime Minister.
2.2. By 2030:

- For existing railway network:

+ To complete renovation, upgrading and efficiently exploiting existing railway routes to meet demand for transport;

+ To complete construction of system of projects of ensuring railway transport safety corridor order, crossings points between road and railway in accordance with provisions of Law on railway.

- For newly constructed railway:

+ To build high-speed railway route (in short term, exploiting train having a speed of from 160 kilometers/hour to less than 200 kilometers/hour), double track of size of 1,435 millimeters, electrification, infrastructure of railway routes can meet demand of train of high-speed of 350 kilometers/hour in future, giving priorities to build railway sections having huge transport demand on North - South axis under ability of mobilize capital;
+ To research and construct electrification railway of size of 1,435 millimeter: Lao Cai – Ha Noi – Hai Phong with a length of 380 km; Ha Noi - Dong Dang with a length of 156 km;   

+ To research, build railway routes connecting with sea ports, economic zones, industrial parks, tourism zones: Dieu Tri - Nhon Hoi; Vung Ang - Mu Gia connecting with Lao railway; My Thuy port - Dong Ha - Lao Bao; railway route to inland port ICD Huong Canh (Vinh Phuc); Nam Dinh - Thinh Long and Ninh Co economic zone; railway to ports in north Central region (Nghi Son, restoring railway to port of Cua Lo); railway route to ports in mid-central region (Chan May, Lien Chieu, Dung Quat); railway route to ports in south Central region (Quy Nhon, Phan Thiet, restoring railway route from station of Nga Ba - Ba Ngoi port);

+ To research and construct coastal railway route: Nam Dinh – Thai Binh - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh with a length of approximately 120 km; Ha Long - Mui Chua - Mong Cai with a length of 150 km;

+ To research, build railway route connecting with provinces in Central Highlands such as Dak Nong - Kon Tum - Dak Lak – Binh Phuoc with a length of 550 km, Tuy Hoa - Ban Me Thuot with a length of about 169 km, Dak Nong – Binh Thuan with a length of about 121 km;

+ To research and build railway routes: Di An - Loc Ninh connecting with railway of Cambodia; Lang Son - Quang Ninh (Mui Chua) with a length of about 95 km; Thai Nguyen - Tuyen Quang - Yen Bai with a length of about 73 km;
+ To restore railway route of Thap Cham - Da Lat with a length of about 84 km.

- For urban railways: continuing to implement investment and strive to complete urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as plans which have been approved by the Prime Minister.

(List of railway infrastructure investment projects by 2020, with a vision to 2030 specified in Appendix I attached to this Decision. Demand for increased land use and electricity energy by 2020, with a vision to 2030 specified in Appendix II attached to this Decision).
3. Regarding railway industry:
3.1. By 2020:
- To renovate and build facilities of manufacturing, assembling locomotives, carriages, producing spare parts, striving to hit localization rate of 40% - 60%; renovating technology and expand production scale to meet basic needs of maintenance, renovating, repairing, upgrading existing railway networks and gradually exporting;

- Locomotive: having orientation to develop industry of assembling diesel locomotives for old railway and electric locomotive for new electrification routes; at the same time, developing strongly self-propelled trains for urban, suburban passenger railway transport;

- Carriage: focusing on developing industry of newly building carriages to supply for domestic consumption, looking towards exports to countries in the region;

- Railway spare parts, accessories (rails, sleepers, accessories, system of traction power supply, information, signals ...): To boost domestic production, step by step meeting needs of maintenance of existing railway route and proceed to export.
3.2. By 2030:

- To invest in modern technological line for facilities of manufacturing and assembling locomotives, carriages, spare parts production, striving to reach localization rate of between 60% - 80%; expanding scale of production for building high-quality carriages to meet domestic demand and export;
- To develop industry of production of railway spare parts and accessories to meet demand of building new domestic railway routes and export.
IV. Implemented policies, solutions
1. On the State management

To strengthen the State management and consolidate models of organization, management and exploitation of railway infrastructure system. Ensuring railway transport operation smooth, orderly, safe, accurate and efficient; contributing to socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security. Developing railway under modern and synchronous strategies and plans; mounting type of railway transport with other transport models. Clearly distinguishing between the State management of the State agencies with business management of the enterprise; between railway infrastructure business and railway transport business on railway infrastructure invested by the State.

2. On raising funds

- To proactively allocate funds from the State budget; having a special mechanism to mobilize maximum capital from all domestic and foreign economic sectors as ODA, preferential capital of foreign governments, issuing government bonds ... to invest in development of railway infrastructure, especially urban railway systems and urban – suburban railway, key railway route on axis of North - South, East - West.

- To develop and promulgate socialization mechanism to encourage all economic sectors to participate in invest in railway infrastructure through form of franchise of railway infrastructure business, joint ventures, Public Private Partnership (PPP), issuing project bonds ... constructing specific mechanism of exploiting land area of projects, particularly railway projects via urban area, railway stations... to mobilize investment capital for development of national railway infrastructure on routes and sections having exploitation advantageous under plans and management of the State.

- To promote socialization policies in business of railway transport, services of supporting railway transport; attracting economic sectors, including foreign investors to invest in means of transport, projects of supporting transport activities (platforms, warehouse, goods yard, unloading means...).

- To have mechanisms of supporting industrial facilities which invest in importing new, modern technology lines of advanced countries under key mechanical programs of the State to form industrial facilities of assembling locomotives, producing wagons and railway spare parts, accessories, gradually replacing obsolete vehicles with small capacity and energy-intensive consumption.
3. Development of human resources

- There is a reasonable investment plan for training and development of human resources. Setting up policies of encouraging and attracting skilled professionals working in field of railway transport. Quickly organizing training of human resources in technology of electrified railway, high speed railway, urban railway.

- To increase investment in technical infrastructure, renovating programs of training and expanding forms of training; attaching importance to socialization of education, ensuring sufficient high quality human resources to serve development needs of modern railways.

- To have policy of policy and remuneration for employees working in special conditions of railway sector, especially in remote, mountainous and disadvantaged areas.

- To establish training, intensive research units in field of railways; investing in upgrading railway vocational schools to train qualified human resources to meet demand for railway development.
- To give priority to arrange targets of overseas railway specialized training.
4. On science – technology

There are policies to encourage study and application of new scientific and technologies, new and modern material achievements in researching, training, exploiting transport, construction and maintenance of infrastructure, industry and services. Particularly focusing on applying information technology to plan and organize exploitation, gathering and processing of customer information; developing system of selling and controlling automatically ticket, enhancing quality management, standardizing industrial products in accordance with standards of Vietnam and international railway organizations.

5. Regarding international cooperation

Long Giang
Source: moj.gov.vn