[sustran] First urban railway route in Hanoi under construction

[eric britton]

Source:
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/201009/First-urban-railway-route-in-Hano
i-under-construction-937891/ (With AD's comment: " Looking forward to see
the fare and wonder how could they make it more tempted than that of riding
a motorcycle for people."

As someone who loves Vietnam deeply and has a bit of experience in transport
in cities, including in Asia, I find this very distressing and all too
familiar. Why on earth should anyone in a situation in which transport OD
requirements are many-to-many and all-the-time, decide to spend scarce
taxpayer dollars on a terrible expensive 19th century mobility system. 

If the French really want to help Hanoi, they should be proposing a light
on-surface Strasburg style tramway. They could make their money and do good
at the same time. But an 80 kph heavy rail system in the middle of the city
and costing a billion Euros (as surely it will), is no kind favor. 

Shame on you European Investment Bank and Asian Development Bank for going
along with this hubris-inspired billion dollar mistake. 

Eric Britton

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