The Hanoi Department of Construction announced it is accelerating steps to meet the goal of developing 15 urban railway lines, totaling about 600km, by 2045.

The city is currently rushing to complete procedures to begin construction on two urban railway lines in 2025, inclulding Line 2, Nam Thang Long – Tran Hung Dao section, 11.5km long, and Line 5, Van Cao – Hoa Lac section, 38.43km long.

This is part of Hanoi People’s Committee Resolution No188 to develop urban railways in three phases.

From 2024 to 2030, the city aims to complete about 96.8km, including Lines 2, 3, and 5, while preparing investments for 301km of Lines 1, extended 2A to Xuan Mai, Lines 4, 6, 7, 8, and those connecting satellite cities. The total estimated capital for this phase is about $14.6 billion.

From 2031 to 2035, Hanoi will complete an additional 301km of urban railways, with an estimated capital of about $22.57 billion. Once completed, urban railways will handle 35-40 percent of public passenger transport.

From 2036 to 2045, the city will complete the remaining 200.7km supplemented under the Capital Master Plan and revised General Plan. The estimated capital for this phase is $18.25 billion.

Developing the urban railway system will not only ease Hanoi’s urban traffic pressure but also promote sustainable, modern, and connected urban development. Once completed, the urban railway network will serve as the backbone of the public transport system, driving development in both the inner city and satellite urban areas.

Dang Huy Dong, Director of the Institute for Planning and Development Research, stated that completing the urban railway system in just under 12 years is a daunting task. 

It may not be feasible without integrating TOD (transit-oriented development) urban models along metro station routes. This requires exceptional management that goes beyond current investment and construction regulations.

According to Dong, without solutions for management mechanisms and funding, continued reliance on ODA loans will hinder Hanoi’s ability to complete its historic urban railway mission. To secure funding, TOD planning and auctions for real estate investment rights in these areas are essential.

Public transportation includes various types, but only urban railways can effectively address urban traffic issues in cities with populations of 5 million or more.

Hanoi will conduct a review of land ownership and usage along the corridors, project locations, and TOD planning areas of approved urban railway lines.

TOD area is developed around stations and stops of public transportation, focusing on creating living, working, and recreational spaces closely connected to these transport routes. The goal of TOD is to encourage the use of public transportation, reduce traffic congestion, and foster sustainable urban development.

VND17,509 billion railway complex

Hanoi People’s Committee has submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister regarding the location, scale, and boundaries of a railway industry complex project in southern Hanoi (in communes of Chuyen My and Ung Hoa, Hanoi, covering about 250 hectares).

Previously, Vietnam Railways Corporation proposed that competent authorities review and approve the investment policy for this project.

The proposed railway industry complex is a multifunctional facility, including a factory for manufacturing and assembling vehicles, equipment, and spare parts; a research center; a maintenance and repair center; infrastructure connections to the national railway; and supporting facilities.

The preliminary total investment for the railway industry complex is VND17,509 billion. Public investment will fund the railway line connecting to the national railway, technical infrastructure, an R&D center, and state-supported components. 

State capital injected into enterprises will fund the assembly plant and related components, while inviting investors to participate and collaborate in business operations.

If approved by authorities, the railway industry complex project will be prepared for investment within one year and constructed within three years to complete Phase 1 by 2029.

According to Vietnam Railways Corporation, the complex aims to produce domestically and gradually localize hardware and software components for information, signaling, and power supply systems; and master operations and maintenance. And it will produce certain spare parts for high-speed railways. It will also involve technology transfer, equipment investment, and production of locomotives and carriages for national railways with speeds below 200 km/h, as well as purchasing designs and manufacturing for urban railways.

The project will also establish a functional area for major repairs of all railway vehicles and equipment, initially focusing on national and urban railways.

N. Huyen 

Union Pacific, the largest U.S. freight railroad operator, is exploring a possible acquisition of Norfolk Southern to create a US$200-billion coast-to-coast rail network, a person familiar with the matter said.

Talks are in early stages, the person said, with no guarantee talks will progress or that any deal would pass what would be expected to be a lengthy, detailed regulatory review. The two companies declined to comment.

Any deal to unite two of the six largest freight rail operators in North America is likely to draw intense regulatory scrutiny. Major shippers in the steel, chemical and grain industries are expected to lobby against any further concentration in an industry that has consolidated from over 100 Class I railroads in the 1950s to just six today.

Union Pacific UNP-N shares fell 2.7 per cent in Friday afternoon trading, while Norfolk Southern NSC-N rose 1.52 per cent.

A combination would mark a shift in the U.S. freight rail landscape, creating a single-line network stretching from coast to coast, changing the current divide between western and eastern regional operators.

Norfolk is recovering from a tumultuous past couple of years that included the firing of its previous CEO amid ethics investigations, a boardroom battle with activist Ancora, and a train derailment that cost the company about $1.4-billion.

A merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would create the first modern West-to-East single-line freight railroad in the U.S.

Earlier this year, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said a transcontinental merger would be good for customers, eliminating the need for interchanges between carriers in Chicago – a longstanding bottleneck – and reducing costly delays for shippers.

But critics warn that such consolidation could reduce competition, a possible concern for regulators. With fewer major players in the market, shippers may face higher costs and diminished service options.

“We suspect certain shipper groups could get vocal on the perceived lost competition a merger would bring,” Barclays analyst Brandon R. Oglenski said.

Discussions between the two operators, first disclosed by Semafor, spurred speculation that competitors would also consider concentration.

“History teaches that mergers and acquisitions within the railroad industry will inspire and motivate additional M&A,” said Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.

That happened earlier this decade when Canadian Pacific offered to acquire Kansas City Southern, which prompted CP’s main competitor – Canadian National – to submit their own offer to acquire Kansas City Southern.

Ultimately the Canadian National offer was not allowed to proceed, and Canadian Pacific did acquire Kansas City Southern in 2023 – creating the first railroad to link Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

In 2024, Union Pacific led the industry with $24.3-billion in revenue, followed by BNSF (privately held, owned by Berkshire Hathaway), CSX CSX-Q, Canadian National CNR-T, Norfolk and Canadian Pacific Kansas City CP-T.

“The energy and momentum toward the remaining two U.S. based Class I railroads – BNSF and CSX – pursuing a merger would be considerable,” Steenhoek said.

A regulatory decision could take 16 to 22 months, with merging carriers required to notify the Surface Transportation Board three to six months before filing an application, followed by a year-long evidentiary review and a final ruling within 90 days, Oglenski said.

A potential Union Pacific acquisition of Norfolk Southern could have material synergy, he said.

“Any deal would face serious review from regulators,” said Emily Nasseff Mitsch, equity analyst at CFRA.

Tomeka Watson Bryant, 34
General manager
New Orleans Public Belt Railroad

Education: Degree in exercise science, Elon University; MBA, Pfeiffer University.

Job responsibilities: Oversee daily operations, ensuring safe, efficient and compliant train movements; customer service and track maintenance for the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB). This includes managing 176 employees.

Briefly describe your career path.
I started my railroad career in operations, moved into a safety and training role, and was later promoted to a position in sales and marketing. I now serve as the general manager of the NOPB.

What sparked your interest in the rail industry?
I am a second-generation railroader, so the railroad has always been a part of my life.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My very first job was in retail at Levi’s and Dockers. I learned how to fold clothes properly.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Most people are surprised to learn that I am an All-American college athlete and a member of the Elon Hall of Fame.

What’s one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned so far in your career?
The most valuable lesson I have learned in my career is that your employees are your most valuable asset; and that safety is never “fixed,” you must actively work on it every day.

How do you stay resilient and motivated when things get tough at work, in the industry or in life?
When things get tough, I usually call my dad and other mentors I have in the industry. I also lean heavily on my faith.

If you could share a meal with anyone in the world today, who would it be and why?
I would definitely pick Beyoncé! However, if I had to choose someone in the rail industry, I would pick [BNSF Railway Co. President and CEO] Katie Farmer. With both women, I’d love to learn the secret to their success from the perspective of balancing family, career and life.

In your view, what is the rail industry’s greatest challenge today?
From my perspective, technology and visibility continue to be the biggest challenges facing the rail industry today.