Vietnam plans to use Japanese bullet-train technology for a transnational rail link, the chief executive of state-owned Vietnam Railways Corp. was quoted Thursday as telling Japanese media.
The Vietnam government has already given basic approval for the Shinkansen system, although it still requires financing and formal consent from the prime minister, Nguyen Huu Bang reportedly told the Nikkei Business daily.
Funding for the US$56 billion project, however, remains riddled with uncertainties, the report said, with Hanoi seeking Japanese aid and funds from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
The 1,560-kilometer (970 mile) high-speed rail link would replace the current train line connecting the capital Hanoi with the southern commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, a journey that now takes three days.
Vietnam hopes to launch the highspeed trains by 2020 and plans to start by building three sections, including a 90-kilometer stretch between the central coastal cities of Da Nang and Hue, seen as potentially most profitable.
The Nikkei said Japan’s government and its railway industry, facing saturation domestically, want to expand the market overseas for Shinkansen trains and have high hopes for the potential in Vietnam.
However, the report added that cost estimates were still seen as inadequate, and that Japan was believed to have suggested that Vietnam postpone the planned opening of the high-speed rail service until 2036 or later.
Vietnam Railways Corp. in Hanoi declined to comment on the report.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. led gains by train-makers in Tokyo trading following the report. The company, Japan’s second-largest maker of heavy machinery, surged 6.9 percent to 263 yen at the close on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the steepest gain in the Nikkei 225 Stock Average. Nippon Sharyo Ltd., a rail-car maker, rose 8.9 percent to 652 yen, the highest level in 12 years, and Kinki Sharyo Co. climbed 8.7 percent to 913 yen, its highest close in 19 years.
“There is strong global demand for Japan’s railway technology, given the lack of transportation infrastructure abroad and increased focus on cutting greenhouse gases,” said Fumiyuki Nakanishi, a strategist at Tokyo-based SMBC Friend Securities Co. “Japan’s railway-related industries have longterm growth prospects.”
Build big highway from north to south first then build railroad before thinking about that bullet-train, we're really not need that kind of transportation mabey until 2050.Remember get what you need not what you want.
Are you the one who jealous of the Thais of their tall building project?
Now Vietnam?
You should learn to know the situation of Laos, population, geography, the differences between Laos and other country first.
Laos is one of the most poorest country in the world right now.
What you need to ask first are: when will Laos get out of poverty? What can I dont I do for Laos? What can I do for Laos so that Laos will have something like neighbors?
I can't believe you're asking this question at the moment. Holly shiet!!! Let's have some little common sense here folks..
You're thinking about bullet train?? I think you're jumping the gun here dude. When you don't even have equated public transportation system in place yet. Should be worrying about keeping the current roads in good condition and expand highways. First thing that Laos needs to do right now is to improve quality drinking water for all people and improve living standard.
When I see this question.. makes me laugh out loud.. this remind me of this saying.. "High Class but Low Incomes" this goes for many laotians living in the U.S., working at the production lines and the income isn't as high.... but yet they are driving BMW, Benz, SUV, and etc... and still living in tiny apartments.. hahahahhaha so typical of our folks, always have their priority wrong!!!!!
I don't think Laos is ready for this kind of project yet unless the Laotian Gov. check in them corrupt official maybe laos can have something like that one day. Until right now there is too many corruption in the government and greed. But I think Laos should build more paved roads and urban sewage frist before any major contruction. And plus think about the ppl in Laos and what laotian need and thats food and entertianment.
I live in Canberra the Capital of Australia, about this issue, and with a tiny population like Lao, we don't need bullet train or even just normal train, because we don't have enough people to travel....let look at this one again for Canberra, the government of Canberra had a project about Bullet train from Canberra to Sydney long ago, but now they dropped it because it believed ' too expensive to build and with the population of Canberra around 200 000 people therefore they thought not enough people to travel....and thus will making this project a loss...Lao does not need bullet train or even train.....remember this again Vietnam has more than 82 millions people. Cheer everybody.
I really would have to agree with most of the responses cause Laos doesnt even have a large population and even the largest city in laos doesnt have a total population of a million right ? so there would be no point in building shinkansen the main goal of the country and the government first is to lift its status up from the L.D.C status
56 Billion dollar train, lol, Vietnam itself I don't think needs that...maybe in 1967 for their HO(E) Chi Minh Trail. Anyway it's a waste for our country as of right now. Let's focus on building work and better gov. for the people. Also I'm sorry, but I'm tired of seeing people get so blown about Vietnam has this, Thai has that, and Cambodia's building la la la yada. Take it easy, have pride and be proud of what we have. No need to want or compare, Lao people unique in our own way, our cultures rich w/ history. Sorry if i step on anyone's toe...
I think we just make it happen about every corners of Lao having Electricity to use and basic of public health services in every villages or districts.
We don't have even our own railway yet. The railway that we are using today is so short distant and it's not build by Lao but Thai build for us. Big bridges that crossing the river also they built for us, Roads also they build for us and now you think you gonna ask vietnam to ask them to build the Shinkansen for you?
Thuiiiiiiiiiii.....
By 2020 or 2036, I don't think I can wait to catch up with that train as I may already old first.
And I don't think Vietnam will change so fast, believe me. A lot of things that bneed to improve.
