A seminar on the new North-South express train route was held in Hanoi on September 15, drawing both Vietnamese and Japanese engineers.

The North-South express train route is considered to be the largest infrastructure project in Vietnam at an estimated cost of about US$38 billion.

The express train with a top speed of 300km per hour will run over such stretches as Hanoi-Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City-Phan Thiet, Hanoi-Vinh, Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang and Da Nang-Hue.      

The new route will lower transportation costs, shorten travel time between Hanoi and HCM City from 30 to 7 hours and reduce traffic accidents.

According to plan, construction will begin in 2012 and be completed by 2020.

Source: VOV