The railway had to transfer passengers by road due to the impact of the typhoon. — vietnamplus.vn
HANOI: Typhoon Kalmaegi, or Storm No 13, has caused major disruption to rail services in central Vietnam, with heavy rain and strong winds damaging several sections of the Hanoi–HCM City railway line.
According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), as of Friday (Nov 7) morning, parts of the track between Quang Ngai and Tuy Hoa have been washed out or blocked, forcing trains to halt services.
Around 1,500 passengers travelling through the affected area are expected to be transferred by road on Friday between Tuy Hoa Station in Dak Lak province and Dieu Tri station in Gia Lai province.
The most serious damage has been recorded at kilometre 1136+850 on the Phuoc–Van Canh section, where the track bed has been eroded to a depth of about nine metres.
Other sections have also suffered collapsed embankments, fallen trees and broken signal poles.
Power cuts have disrupted communications and signalling systems, with some equipment disabled by flooding.
Repair teams are working on site, but progress will depend on the weather and water drainage conditions. VNR says it cannot yet confirm when the line will be fully reopened.
Passengers affected by the disruption can return their tickets free of charge. This applies to those holding tickets for even-numbered trains passing through Tuy Hoa Station and odd-numbered trains passing through Dieu Tri Station on Friday and Saturday.
Rail services SE5/SE6 (Hanoi/Saigon) and SE21/SE22 (Danang/Saigon) scheduled for Saturday have already been suspended. Notices have been sent to passengers via SMS and online platforms. Trains currently en route have been instructed to stop at stations to avoid dangerous conditions.
The rail operator says it will continue to update the public on weather-related developments.
In October, the railway sector also faced widespread disruption due to Storm No 12 and flooding in Hue City and other central provinces, forcing the suspension of dozens of services and the road transfer of thousands of passengers between stations. — Vietnam News/ANN
