The province’s urban railway network planning

​ (News Portal – Dong Nai) - The urban railway network will connect large urban areas, airports in the province as well as with other localities in the Southeast Region. 

In Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park, it is proposed to build a central hub connecting all types of transport. 

Propose the construction of a number of metro lines

Currently, to strengthen the transportation network connecting the region, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has proposed a plan to extend metro line No. 1 to Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces.

In particular, the section extending to Dong Nai is about 18.3 km long at high altitude. The line extending to Dong Nai will also be divided into 3 sections including: section from S0 station to Vung Tau intersection; from Vung Tau intersection to Cho Sat and from Cho Sat intersection to Ho Nai 3 commune area.

Based on the plan to extend metro line No. 1 to Dong Nai, the Department of Transport has consulted with the consulting unit on incorporating the metro network planning into the provincial planning.

Mr. Le Quang Binh, Director of the Department of Transport, said that in the plan to extend metro line No. 1 to Dong Nai, a station would be built in the Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park area as a central platform. This would be used as a hub connecting various forms of transport. Therefore, the Department of Transport also worked with a consulting unit to propose planning of a metro line from Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park station extending to Long Thanh airport. From here, this metro line would connect with the Thu Thiem light rail line - Long Thanh airport, ensuring rail traffic connection between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai.

Also starting from Bien Hoa Industrial Park 1 station, the Department of Transport also proposed a metro line passing through Hiep Hoa Ait area, and into downtown area of Bien Hoa City. This metro line will go through the center of Bien Hoa City to Nguyen Ai Quoc street, then follow Nguyen Du street to connect with Bien Hoa airport, which is currently planned for dual-use purpose.

Along with the two metro lines mentioned above, the Department of Transport also proposed a metro line connecting major urban areas in the province. Specifically, this metro line will have a starting point in Nhon Trach district, connecting with urban areas in Long Thanh, Thong Nhat, Trang Bom districts and the final stop will be in Bien City. “Regarding the route direction, the provincial planning consulting unit will develop a plan. The Department of Transport's opinion is that the metro line must go through urban areas because this is a type of transport that serves as passenger transport, not freight transport" - Mr. Le Quang Binh said.

Promoting urban development

Director of the Department of Construction Ho Van Ha said that according to the proposal of the Department of Transport to build a metro line connecting the station in Bien Hoa Industrial Park 1 with Long Thanh airport, the Department of Construction had also proactively researched methods to supplement the planning. At the same time, the Department of Construction also proposed that the provincial planning consulting unit to study how to develop urban areas surrounding metro platforms. "Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is also implementing this model, so it is necessary to conduct researches and planning to help in the process of developing Bien Hoa urban area " -

Currently, urban development following the TOD model has achieved successes in Japan, in which, the development is mainly concentrated around the stations, as central hubs were developed with unlimited transit functions for public commute. According to assessments, the advantage of developing urban railways following the TOD model is to maximize the added value from the land to offset the investment capital for urban railways. Maximize passenger traffic using urban railways will make public passenger transport profitable. At the same time, it will allow passengers to have access to a convenient, comfortable and safe mean of transport from TOD-style urban areas to urban railway stations and vice versa, contributing to improving environmental and social conditions in the locality.

Previously, at a conference to comment on provincial planning held in mid-June, architect Ngo Viet Nam Son also said that it was necessary to have a metro line running from Ho Chi Minh City through Bien Hoa City to Long Thanh airport.

Also according to him, if this metro line was formed, the area from Bien Hoa City to Long Thanh airport would have great potential for urban development according to the TOD model, because this area still had a large land bank. In addition, this area was located between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh airport, making it convenient for connecting and commuting between the two locations. ​