VIETNAM: Siemens Mobility and the VinSpeed High-Speed Railway Investment & Development Joint Stock Co subsidiary of industrial group Vingroup have signed a comprehensive strategic partnership and framework agreement covering co-operation to develop two planned high speed rail lines as turnkey projects.
The planned 121 km standard gauge electrified passenger-only line running east from Hanoi to Hạ Long in Quảng Ninh province would have four stations including one at the future Gia Binh Airport.
A 54 km line running south from Ben Thanh in Ho Chi Min City to Cần Giờ on the coast which was recently approved by the HCM City People’s Committee would have two stations, with four more to be added later.
Under the agreement signed in Hanoi on December 17, Siemens Mobility would serve as VinSpeed’s technology partner, responsible for design, supply and integration of 350 km/h Velaro Novo high speed trains and key railway subsystems including electrification, telecoms and ETCS Level 2 with automatic train operation. It is also exploring opportunities to provide maintenance services.
Vingroup said the agreement marks ’a strategic step by VinSpeed toward mastering high speed rail development capabilities, while laying the foundation for the transfer of world-leading advanced technologies, promoting localisation and developing a modern, international-standard transport infrastructure system for Vietnam.’
VinSpeed CEO Pham Thieu Hoa said ‘the combination of VinSpeed’s project execution capabilities and deep understanding of the domestic market with Siemens Mobility’s global experience and advanced technology will create a strong foundation for delivering international standard high speed rail lines, contributing to socioeconomic development and improving quality of life for the Vietnamese people.’
Siemens has been active in Vietnam’s energy, healthcare and transport sectors since 1993. Siemens Mobility CEO Michael Peter said ‘we are proud that the global frontrunner VinSpeed has selected Siemens Mobility to deliver Vietnam’s first high speed rail lines. This confidence in our turnkey expertise and technology underscores Siemens’ position as the partner of choice for ambitious mobility projects worldwide.’ He said that compared to previous models, ‘Velaro Novo, our most advanced high speed train platform, delivers up to 30% lower energy consumption, 10% higher passenger capacity and proven reliability, tailored for Vietnam’s challenging terrain’.
- VinSpeed has also expressed interst in partcipating in the government’s plans to develop a 1 541 km north-south high speed railway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
