Vietnam Railways, the operator of the country’s north to south rail system, is set to build two five-star trains by the end of this year, its chairman told the media Friday.
The brand new trains will be built with standards and technology at an international level, VNR chairman Tran Ngoc Thanh said at a press conference in Hanoi.
The decision is the latest in a series of efforts by VNR to revamp its aging, low-tech train fleet, following an overhaul of two of its trains late last month.
On January 28, VNR unveiled the revamped SE3 and SE4 trains, whose interior and equipment had been upgraded to five-star standards. Sixty-seven cars got a facelift under the VND83 billion (US$3.87 million) project.
“But the train cars are still those that were made 12 years ago,” Thanh admitted, adding this is why VNR is determined to build two brand new trains.
The upgraded SE3 and SE4 trains have received positive feedback from passengers, which Thanh said is “encouragement for us to do even better.”
“I’m certain that in 2015 Vietnam will have new trains that can only be found in foreign countries,” he said. “Their quality and service will be better, but fares will not be higher.”
The VNR started restructuring its operations at the beginning of this year, and is scheduled to go private as of 2016, according to Dan Tri newswire.
The Ho Chi Minh City-based news website said Thanh had vowed when taking the position last year that he would “resign if Vietnam’s railways remain unchanged.”
The VNR trains are also expected to be equipped with free Wi-Fi access to serve passengers during Tet (Lunar New Year), which begins on February 19.
Wi-Fi access will be available free of charge on the SE1, SE2, SE3, and SE4 trains on the railway that connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Van Binh, deputy general director of the Hanoi railway operator, told the media on January 3.
Vietnam railway operator to build two brand new five-star trains: chairman Related image(s)
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