The deputy-minister explained the Eximbank in China had at last released the US$250 million loan needed to kickstart the project. He carried on by saying the tracks between Cat Linh and Ha Dong had been laid and most of the rolling stock was either in-country or in transit.
Ngoc Dong said Chinese contractors had been told to get a move on and that Vietnam had been through three transport-ministers since the Skytrain broke ground in 2011. Finishing off, the minister said the Chinese had been told the deadline for the launch of the Skytrain services was the end of 2018.
12GO ASIA notes that while the 13kms of tracks might have been laid, the support infrastructure is far from complete. Onsite engineers claim the likes of signalling systems and fire alarms have not so far been installed. Another issue delaying completion is that the original estimated cost has soared from US550 million to US$870 million.
Vietnam sets 2018 deadline for opening of Hanoi urban Skytrain
News in Asia
Vietnam’s deputy-transport-minister says Hanoi’s début elevated railway line should be up and running by year’s end. Speaking to reporters last week, Nguyen Ngoc Dong stated that issues which had been delaying progress on and completion of the system had been resolved.