Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Passenger train services through central Hanoi will be scaled back and freight trains diverted away from the inner city under a plan agreed by the capital city's authorities and the Ministry of Construction.
The changes mean that many trains will no longer pass through the narrow residential strip near Long Bien Bridge that has become a magnet for visitors seeking close-up photographs of trains running just metres from cafés and homes.
The adjustments form part of a broader roadmap to transfer control of a key section of national railway infrastructure – from Hanoi Station to Gia Lam Station – to the municipal government, clearing the way for urban renewal and heritage-led redevelopment in the capital’s historic core.
Under the agreement, passenger and tourist train frequencies on the Hanoi–Gia Lam line will be reduced, with some services no longer stopping at Gia Lam Station.
Freight trains will cease operating on the Hanoi–Long Bien–Gia Lam corridor altogether and will be rerouted to the existing western freight line via Bac Hong and Van Dien.
City officials said Hanoi would establish additional bus transfer hubs near the Gia Lam locomotive factory to maintain passenger connectivity after the rail service reductions.
To manage displaced freight traffic, the city will also work with Vietnam Railways to identify and allocate around one hectare of land near Ha Dong Station in Phu Luong ward for use as a freight yard.
Earlier this year, Hanoi formally proposed taking over the railway infrastructure on the Hanoi–Gia Lam section to facilitate restoration and redevelopment projects linked to the Old Quarter.
The proposal included a recommendation to halt passenger trains through the train street area, citing safety and urban management concerns.
An inter-agency task force was set up by the Ministry of Construction to review the legal framework, assess the condition of the assets and draft an overall transfer plan.
The group is expected to report back to both the ministry and the city for final decisions.
The ministry also agreed to transfer railway infrastructure from track level downward along the Hanoi–Gia Lam corridor, including Long Bien Bridge, enabling the city to pursue urban renovation while preserving the area’s historical and cultural character.
Officials say the restructuring is intended to give Hanoi greater control over urban planning in its central areas, while ensuring safer and more efficient rail operations as the city continues to grow./.
Rail sector operates more than 1,800 services during Lunar New Year
According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation, the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route accounted for 906 services, providing 384,000 seats. Other routes operated 988 services, offering a further 377,700 seats.
