Vingroup to use Siemens Velaro Novo high-speed rail technology for Hanoi–Quang Ninh project

On the morning of April 12, the Hanoi–Quang Ninh high-speed railway project, scaled at $5.6 billion, officially broke ground. The project is designed to use Vingroup’s Siemens Velaro Novo technology to optimize operations and reduce travel time to 23 minutes.

Project scale and technology partner

With total investment of over VND 147,000 billion, VinSpeed Investment and Development High-Speed Rail Joint Stock Company said the project aims to establish new transport standards in the Bắc Bộ economic belt. Siemens AG (Germany) was selected as the strategic partner, reflecting considerations around operational efficiency and the ability to transfer infrastructure technology over the long term.

Siemens Mobility introduced the Velaro Novo high-speed train, described as the latest generation designed for operation at up to 350 km/h with a safety margin. The manufacturer said Velaro has logged more than 3 billion kilometers of real-world experience across major markets including Germany, France, and China, maintaining an on-time rate above 99%.

Train design and energy efficiency

The Velaro Novo design uses a hollow-tube structure intended to reduce carbody weight by about 15% compared with older generations. Siemens Mobility said that, together with a smart energy-management system, enables energy savings of up to 30%, supporting the project’s economic viability over its decades-long lifecycle.

Technology-transfer approach and international lessons

The cooperation pathway was compared with a technology-transfer strategy previously used by BMW in relation to VinFast in 2018. At that time, VinFast acquired intellectual-property rights for the BMW 5 Series and X5 chassis and began local engine production (N20) in Haiphong. Engineering partners were engaged to refine the engine architecture for domestic conditions, including removing complex variable-geometry valve timing systems to improve durability and reduce maintenance in hot, humid climates.

Investments in a body and crankshaft machining workshop under German supervision were also cited as helping shorten product-development cycles while preserving European-quality standards. The article further noted that experience from countries with the world’s largest high-speed rail networks highlights the importance of absorbing cross-technology from the West.

Localization reference from China

It said that more than two decades ago, China implemented a mandatory technology-transfer policy for leading groups such as Siemens to gain market access. By integrating strengths from multiple technical sources and training domestic engineers, China progressed toward 84% localization of technical standards on its latest trains.

Signaling, automation, and route details

On the governance side, VinSpeed’s Hanoi–Quang Ninh line integrates ETCS Level 2 signaling and automated train operation (ATO) to support safety at high speeds. The TrainIT system is described as enabling comprehensive digitization of real-time sensor data, helping engineers forecast maintenance schedules with precision.

The route length is 120.2 km, with completion expected by 2028. The article said 96% of the alignment will be on viaducts to optimize speed.

Expected impact and rationale

The article said accepting substantial investment in German technical standards is viewed as a way to guarantee safety and sustainability, while also affirming Vietnamese firms’ ability to master advanced rail infrastructure technologies.