Steam locomotives chugging on the Hue - Da Nang route are about to be put into operation to serve tourists. The trains will be designed with an old European style interior.

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

The Viet Nam Railways (VNR) has just asked for a permission from the Ministry of Transport to allow the steam locomotives to operate on the national railway route, exactly the Ha Noi - Ho Chi Minh City railway with a duration of 30 years.

As planned, the steam locomotives will mainly serve tourists, running daily from Lang Co Railway Station in Thua Thien-Hue Province the Kim Lien Station in Da Nang.

They will run through the Hai Van Pass, said to be part of the most beautiful section on the North-South railway, and use railway bridges and tunnels built by the French.

The steam locomotive and carriages project for tourists will be jointly developed by the VNR and the Indochina Rail Co., Ltd.

The VNR will provide operating services, train running charts and related services.

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 as well as side tracks for supplying coal and water for the locomotives.

In addition, about 5,000m² is needed to build a rest station, provide food and beverage services, entertainment, the trade in souvenirs and other services for passengers.

According to a senior official of the VNR, the plan to operate steam locomotives will be prepared carefully in order to cause no disruption in the operation of normal trains on the national railway.

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

Reporting by PHUONG UYEN  - Translating by A.THU