The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has already given in-principle approval for a project to use a steam locomotive on the Da Nang - Hue railway section in service tourism.

A steam locomotive on display at the Da Nang Railway Station. Photo: PHUONG UYEN

The project will be jointly developed by the Viet Nam Railways (VNR) and the Indochina Rail Co., Ltd.

To be eligible for operate the steam locomotive, the developers shall construct necessary infrastructure items such as swing bridges and fire hydrants which meet the existing technical standards and regulations.

Of special note, the project’s developers are required to pay fees for the use of the railway section and return the infrastructure once being requested by the Ministry.

The operation of steam locomotives shall not affect the safe transportation of passengers and freights on the North-South railway route.

Steam trains stopped operating in Viet Nam from the 1990s, replaced by diesel-driven ones.

Reporting by PHUONG UYEN- Translating by A.T