Types of urban railways under the current regulations in Vietnam

 Types of urban railways under the current regulations in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Types of urban railways under the current regulations in Vietnam

Types of urban railways according to Article 71 of the Law on Railway Transport 2017 are as follows:

- Urban railways include subways, above-ground subways, overhead trains, monorails and tramways

- The establishment and issuance of national technical standards and regulations on types of urban railways shall be compliant with regulations of the Law on Technical Regulations and Standards.

2. General requirements for urban railways in Vietnam

General requirements for urban railways according to Article 70 of the Law on Railway Transport 2017 (amended in the Law amendments to some articles concerning planning of 37 laws 2018) are as follows:

- Development of urban railways must be conformable to the regional planning, provincial planning and urban planning, and facilitate urban development.

- Other modes of transport shall be effectively connected in urban areas to serve the transport of passengers. Spatial and technical connections must be established between urban railway works and surrounding works to ensure uniformity according to the urban planning.

- Urban railway works, vehicles and equipment must satisfy economic and technical requirements to ensure uniformity, safety and national defense and security, and requirements for fire safety, rescue, urban landscapes and environmental safety.

- Urban railway safety corridor must meet the following requirements:

+ Do not plant trees or illegally construct works within the corridor;

+ Be separated to prevent unauthorized access;

+ Serve the fire safety and rescue.

- Ensure convenience for passengers and accessibility to the disabled in accordance with regulations of law.

3. Policies on development of urban railways in Vietnam 

Policies on development of urban railways according to Article 72 of the Law on Railway Transport 2017 is as follows:

- The policies are specified in Article 5 of the Law on Railway Transport 2017.

+ Give priority to investment in sources for development, upgrade, maintenance and protection of national and urban railway infrastructure to ensure that rail transport plays a key role in national transport system.

+ Encourage, assist, enable and protect rights and legitimate interests of domestic and foreign organizations and individuals involved in investment in railways and railway business.

+ Provide land according to the planning to develop railway infrastructure and railway industry works.

+ Encourage and assist in development of railway industry, research, apply advanced science and technology, high technology, train human resources for development of modern railways.

+ Encourage and enable organizations and individuals to develop the dedicated railway system.

+ Give priority to allocation of central government budget to annual and medium-term public investment plan at a reasonable rate to ensure railway infrastructure is developed according to the planning.

The Government shall submit an annual report on the implementation of policy for development of rail transport and use of state budget for investment in rail transport to the National Assembly.

- The State shall mobilize sources to develop urban railway into one of the main modes of transport in large urban areas.

- The State shall provide assistance in urban railway business.

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