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To ensure the absolute safety of passengers and trains, Vietnam Railways Corporation has officially announced the suspension of the MR1 international train service from Gia Lam station (Hanoi) to Nanning (China) on July 21st due to the impact of Typhoon No. 3.
According to an announcement from the Vietnam Railways Corporation, all ticket costs have been refunded to passengers affected by this decision. This is an urgent and necessary measure to prevent any potential risks as Typhoon Wipha moves further into the area.
The MR1 international train service from Hanoi (Vietnam) to Nanning (China) on July 21st was temporarily suspended due to the impact of Typhoon Wipha.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Typhoon Wipha is moving into the northern South China Sea and approaching the Chinese coast, stretching from central Guangdong province to eastern Hainan Island. The National Meteorological Center of China (NMC) has issued warnings of widespread heavy rainfall in many areas, including Guangzhou, a bustling economic hub.
In response to this situation, Chinese authorities have implemented drastic measures. All fishing vessels operating off the coast of Guangdong province have been ordered to return to port and seek safe shelter before noon on July 19th. At the same time, China is prepared to close shipping routes and coastal tourist destinations if necessary, prioritizing the safety of its citizens and tourists.
Typhoon Wipha makes landfall, causing extensive damage in China.
China's railway industry is also involved in disaster prevention efforts. Relevant units have urgently implemented a series of emergency flood and storm prevention measures, focusing particularly on coastal high-speed railways, which are likely to be directly and severely affected by the storm.
The decision to temporarily suspend the MR1 train service comes as the Hanoi-Nanning international train route was restored in May of this year, after nearly five years of interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The return of this train service has received great attention from both tourists and businesses, contributing to promoting economic and cultural exchange between the two countries.
Given the unpredictable weather patterns in the last six months of the year, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Railways Corporation, Dang Sy Manh, requested all units to review all vulnerable points on the line and develop response scenarios according to the severity level.
Following its restoration, the Vietnam-China international passenger train service has served over 2,700 passengers. Specifically, May recorded 183 passengers, this number surged to 1,323 in June, and in the first half of July alone, an additional 1,227 passengers used the service. To make it more convenient for passengers, from July 16th, tickets for the Gia Lam - Nanning international train service have been widely available for purchase at all train stations nationwide, instead of being limited to a few fixed stations as before.
Given the unpredictable weather patterns in the last six months of the year, Mr. Dang Sy Manh, Chairman of the Board of Members of Vietnam Railways Corporation, has requested all affiliated units to review all vulnerable points on the railway lines. Simultaneously, response scenarios for different levels of storms and floods have been developed. In particular, Mr. Manh emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination with local authorities following the provincial mergers effective July 1st, to ensure a synchronized and effective response across the entire system.
