History of railways in the world
In 1889, the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway Company was founded and construction of the track began immediately. This was the age of steam, and in 1890 three locomotives from the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were transferred to service. A total of six locomotives were used during the steam age and they are not currently in use, locomotive number 2 is displayed in downtown Manitou Springs, number 3 is at the Grand Canyon Railway, number 4 is at the Grand Canyon Railway, and the 5th is at The Broadmoor Hotel. From the first inventions, in the 90s, the railway was strongly developed in many countries in Europe, Vietnam and the US and continues to develop in the world to this day. In the process of development, due to complex terrain factors and high requirements for tourism, cog railways were formed, including Thap Cham - Da Lat cog railway, which started construction in 1908 and completed its construction established in 1932.
Some cog railways in the world
Tourist Railway Albula/Bernina, Switzerland
The Albula/Bernina route, listed by Unesco as a world heritage site, is one of the important links between Switzerland and Italy, the unique feature of this route for visitors is its journey through history and contemplation the unspoiled beauty of the Grisons region.
This line was built by the pioneers of railway history, connecting Thusis and Poschiavo, this line was one of the achievements of the railway industry of the time, on this line, the road from Coire to Saint-Moritz is known as the most beautiful railway in the world. After crossing the highest railway pass in Europe (Bernina) with an altitude of 2253 meters, visitors will come to the world heritage Albula/Bernina and admire all the cultural beauties of the villages and wild and romantic nature of the mountains of the Alps.
Depart from Chamonix Mont Blanc station, a 20-minute journey on one of the famous cogwheel railways, to reach Europe's most mysterious icebergs: La Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) Once you step on the train, time stops, the journey will go through tunnels drilled through rocky mountains, through some viaducts, into the heart of the primeval forest and stop at Montenvers station at an altitude of 1913m.
La Rhune Railway, Pyrenees Mountains,
About 10km from Saint Jean de Luz, this cog railway, constructed in 1924, will take visitors to an altitude of 905 meters, to the pinnacle of the Basque Country (France-Spain border) to enjoy endless views of the French-Spanish border and the majestic Pyrenees. The route through 35 minutes of climbing at 9km/h will take visitors to the heart of the wild, discovering the Pottok, a wild Basque horse that lives completely free in the wild, as well as Visitors can discover wild goats and hawks, the native flora and fauna of the Pyrenees.
The cog railway Thap Cham - Da Lat and restoration orientations
Thap Cham - Da Lat railway was built by the French from 1908 to 1932. On the whole route, there are 12 stations, 5 underground tunnels (total length of 1,090 m). It hasn’t been used since 1975. Currently, the railway industry has restored nearly 10 km of the Da Lat - Trai Mat route to serve tourism. The Ministry of Transport has allowed the restoration of the entire route to serve tourist attractions.
Thap Cham - Da Lat railway line is 83.5km long, with the starting point at Thap Cham station of the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City railway line, the ending point at Da Lat station, with a gauge of 1,000mm.
If considering the historical line of Thap Cham - Da Lat railway, it can be called a legendary road because this is one of the first two cog railways in the world: one of Vietnam and one of Switzerland. However, Vietnam's railway line is more spectacular because it is both long and steeper than the road of Switzerland. (Vietnam is 84 km long, including 43 km of cog railway through Song Pha pass; while the cog railway in Switzerland has only nearly 25 km in the section crossing Furka pass in the Alps). This is a long and unique cog railway, not only of Vietnam but of the whole world. Dalat Railway Station is considered as one of the most beautiful architectural stations in Indochina. The station architecture was recognized as a National Architectural Monument in 2001.
The restoration of Thap Cham - Da Lat railway has been approved by the Prime Minister to adjust the master plan on development of railway transport in Vietnam to 2020, with a vision to 2030 in Decision No. 1468/QD- On August 24, 2015. According to the Ministry of Transport, on the policy of building Phan Rang - Da Lat railway line, the railway network planning period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. TTg dated October 19, 2021 oriented investment to restore Thap Cham - Da Lat railway.
In January 2019, Bach Dang Hotel Service - Trading Joint Stock Company represented Mr. Than Ha Nhat Thong and French experts working with the People's Committees of Lam Dong and Ninh Thuan provinces. In the past time, Trading Joint Stock Company – Bach Dang hotel service continues to conduct field surveys and research on railways in the world to complete the dossier for granting the right of authority.
On July 7, 202, the Ministry of Transport issued a written approval to assign Bach Dang Hotel Trading Service Joint Stock Company (Bach Dang Company) to preside over the preparation of a pre-feasibility study report for the project to restore Thap Cham- Da Lat railway line in the form of PPP. The project to restore Thap Cham - Da Lat railway route has a length of about 83.5 km with a total project investment estimated at about VND 27,780 billion, expected to be completed and put into commercial operation in 2030. The Ministry of Transport also assigned the Vietnam Railways Administration to guide the completion of procedures for making pre-feasibility study reports, and to assume the prime responsibility for receiving project proposals.
On July 13, 2022, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong had a meeting with Mr. Tran Quoc Nam - Chairman of Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, on the investment policy of the project to restore the cog railway Thap Cham - Da Lat. On July 14, 2022 Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong and Mr. Tran Van Hiep, Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, on the investment policy of the project to restore the Thap Cham - Da Lat cog railway, according to which the Ministry of Industry Bach Dang Hotel Trading Service Joint Stock Company The deadline for submitting the project proposal submitted by the investor is before December 31, 2022.
In particular, Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW dated October 6, 2022 on the direction of socio-economic development and assurance of national defense and security in the Central Highlands until 2030, with a vision to 2045 also identifies to restore and renovate Thap Cham - Da Lat railway to serve tourists…
Global railway development forecasts
According to Roland Berger Consulting's World Rail Market Research Report, the global rail market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 3% through 2027. scale reaches 211 billion euros annually in the period 2025-2027, the above report was made at the request of the Association of the European Railway Supply Industry (UNIFE) and was published at the International Trade Show on transport technology InnoTrans 2022 in Berlin (Germany).
According to the report, while the highest growth rates in the industry are expected to be in small markets such as Africa and the Middle East (7.1 percent) and Eastern Europe (6.1 percent), more mature markets are expected, including Asia - Pacific, also grew significantly and accounted for the largest share of the absolute growth. The report indicates that much progress has been made in efforts to develop railway infrastructure around the world. Since 2020, the total length of the world's railways has increased by about 39,000 km, mainly in the main railway lines and high-speed rail.
Most of the new rail additions are located in the Asia-Pacific region, led by China as it accelerates its infrastructure development plans. Next is India's attempt to expand major railway lines and rail freight corridors.
Proposals for restoration of Thap Cham - Da Lat cog railway
The restoration project of Thap Cham - Da Lat cog railway has many important meanings in the future. In order for the project to be highly feasible, we would like to propose some basic contents as follows:
1/ Investors spend all their synthesis capacity, need to have a long-term vision to prepare a pre-feasibility study report: Calculate, fully update input data on scientific and creative basis:; at the same time, it is necessary to have a long-term forecast of multi-dimensional impact factors; on that basis, develop optimal solutions, then select the most feasible solutions to submit to competent authorities; It is recommended as a principle that only when all factors are considered when the project is highly feasible, the next steps should be taken.
2/ Legality is the number one solution, an immutable solution: Bach Dang Company is responsible for making a project pre-feasibility study report, submitting it to the appraisal for approval of the project investment policy in accordance with regulations. The Law on Investment in the form of public-private partnership, the Law on Railways and other related legal regulations with strict and scientific contents with a long-term vision, overcoming practical lessons like some projects currently, after the policy is completed, in the process of implementing many inadequacies, many problems arise, take a long time to adjust, and generate investment capital.
3/ It is extremely important to have the support and determination of the authorities and people of Ninh Thuan and Lam Dong: This is a historic project with a lot of potential in the future, so localities to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to support investors in the actual survey work, especially the site clearance work during the survey and convenient deployment;
4/ Investment in science and technology: Investors need to pay absolute attention to science and technology, fuel solutions, especially clean fuel, scientific design of locomotives, wagons and rails; To do so, investors need to gather experts, good, experienced and enthusiastic scientists at home and abroad on cog railways, especially experts from Switzerland. Organized visiting delegations to study and exchange experiences directly in Switzerland and France from which to apply creatively to this project.
5/ The investor who proposes the project bears all costs and risks in case the application is not approved by the competent authority, the research report is not approved, the project cannot select an investor. .
The above analysis shows that if the Thap Cham - Da Lat railway route is restored, it will have many meanings: cultural, historical, scientific and technological significance, tourism development with direct economic and social impacts of the two provinces Ninh Thuan and Lam Dong. At the same time, it will create a breakthrough to link the region not only Da Lat, Lam Dong province but also the Central Highlands provinces to connect with the South Central provinces in developing tourism and transporting agricultural products.
Dr. Pham S - Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee
