Logistics ILTRailway Joint Stock Company will spend 85 billion VND (4 million USD) tobuild the Yen Vien Railway Logistics Centre and a 22,000sq.m domesticcontainer warehouse.
It is one of four projects the VRC hassubmitted to the Ministry of Transport in which it is seeking privateinvestment. The three others are stores in Song Than station in thesouthern province of Binh Duong and Dong Dang and Xuan Giao A stationsin the northern province of Lang Son.
"In the past the railwayswanted to invest itself, but now we would like to invite privateinvestors, even to operate trains," VRC Chairman Tran Ngoc Thanh wasquoted as saying by Dau Tu (Vietnam Investment Review) newspaper.
"The VRC will provide infrastructure along with necessary services."
Morethan 10 local investors had evinced interest in railway projects, herevealed. At a recent meeting, Minister of Transport Dinh La Thangsaid Vingroup – a property giant — had offered to buy Hanoi, Sai Gon,and Da Nang railway stations and replace them with modern stationselsewhere in the cities to ease pressure on their downtown areas.
"The Da Nang People's Committee has a master plan and decided to move the station out of the city.
"Butin the case of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, more research needs to bedone. However, development needs should be considered."
Also atthe meeting, the Sun Group offered to buy key railway segments likeHanoi – Da Nang, Sai Gon – Da Nang, and Hanoi – Lao Cai.
Thegroup has invested a lot of money in luxury tourism areas around Vietnamand is ready to invest in 20 luxury rail coaches for its clientswhether or not the other deals go through.
The Vietnam RailwayAuthority has also submitted to the Ministry of Transport a list ofprojects requiring investment, including concessions for 12 segments andfour construction works that could cost 5 billion USD.
"Every investor will be able to invest in the railway, not just the Vietnam Railway Corporation," Thang said.-VNA