Railways sector gears up for National Day surge

During this peak period, VNR will operate 52 north-south passenger trains, providing over 21,000 seats, an increase of 2,400 seats compared to last year, according to VNR.

Short-distance routes have been maximised, offering nearly 103,000 seats, with departures scheduled from afternoon to evening. These routes connect Hanoi to Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Quang Binh, and Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang and Quy Nhon, among others. The focus is particularly on the first and last days of the holiday.

Additionally, passengers purchasing round-trip tickets will receive a 5 per cent discount on the return journey for individuals and 7 per cent for groups of 20 or more. VNR will continue to reduce fares for social policy beneficiaries, including Vietnamese heroic mothers, war invalids, the elderly, students, and trade union members.

Besides increasing capacity and offering discounts, the railway sector is also enhancing connectivity with services at both ends of the journey.

According to vtv.vn , Dang Sy Manh, chairman of the Board of Members at VNR, stated, "The railway sector has been proactive, and with the involvement of local authorities and tourism partners, we have established connections to offer discounts on accommodations and restaurants for train ticket holders. For transportation, we have added connections with buses, taxis, and electric bicycles. We have improved end-to-end connectivity and will leverage this during peak periods like National Day."

According to statistics from VNR, as of 12pm on August 23, the sector had sold nearly 66,000 tickets, mainly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, for August 30, 31 and returning on September 3. Very few seats remain on key tourist routes.

To prepare for this peak period, VNR has directed its companies to allocate sufficient personnel for surveillance at intersections during the holiday. Locomotive enterprise branches have been encouraged to maintain locomotives and carriages properly, ensuring adequate quantity and quality. Operations branches are strengthening security measures at stations, while transport companies are preparing ample human resources and materials to serve passengers.

Currently, train ticket purchases can be made through various convenient methods. Passengers can buy tickets directly at stations, access the railway sector's websites, use e-wallet applications, or ticket-selling apps on mobile devices.

Additionally, the recent introduction of automatic ticket vending machines and international card payment options has made the process even more convenient for both domestic and foreign travellers.

"The integration of various payment channels for online ticket sales greatly benefits passengers as they can use multiple applications to purchase tickets without necessarily having to visit the station," said Pham Thi Anh Dao, head of Hanoi Railway Transport Station.

Dalat railway station recognized as tourist destination The recognition of Dalat Station on the national tourism map should provide momentum for the railway sector to leverage its potential, promote tourism and economic development.

New Sai Gon - Nha Trang trains on trial run The trial of new trains shuttling between Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang beach city in the central province of Khanh Hoa, two of Vietnam's most famous tourist destinations, began on August 9, aiming to improve the service quality and meet the increasing demand, according to to the Vietnam Railways Corporation's Saigon Railway Joint Stock Company.

Private investment in railway industry yet to shine Vietnam's railway industry is waiting for legal improvements to increase its attraction. Tran Thien Canh, director of the Vietnam Railway Authority, talked to VIR's Tung Anh about the prospects for the sector in this country.

VNR encouraged to stay hungry for railway headway Vietnam Railway Corporation is being urged to step up its progress to help fund a high-speed railway project on the North-South axis.