Vingroup taps Alstom for 200 metro trainsets
VINHOMES, a subsidiary of Vingroup, serves as general contractor for Hanoi’s metro projects as the company expands its involvement in Vietnam’s transport infrastructure.
Photograph courtesy of Vingroup
Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup has signed an agreement with French rail manufacturer Alstom to acquire 200 metro trainsets and develop local train production as Hanoi prepares to expand its urban railway network.
The companies signed a rolling stock contract and a technology licensing agreement on 6 October. Under the deal, Alstom will manufacture the first 83 trainsets in France, while Vingroup will produce and assemble the remaining 117 in Vietnam with technical support from the French company.
The agreement will allow Vingroup to develop its own train manufacturing capabilities as Vietnam seeks to reduce its dependence on imported railway equipment.
All 200 Metropolis trainsets will have five cars and operate without drivers. They will use Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4), the highest level of train automation, which allows trains to run without onboard operating staff.
The trains will have aluminium bodies to reduce weight, energy consumption and wear on railway tracks. Their wider cabins will also provide more room for passengers.
Each trainset will use regenerative and disc braking systems. The regenerative brakes recover energy when the train slows down, while the disc brakes provide conventional stopping power.
The first 83 trainsets will be manufactured at Alstom’s Valenciennes Petite-Forêt facility in France, which specializes in metro trains. Alstom will also provide engineering expertise, manufacturing tools and essential components to help Vingroup establish local production.
Alstom CEO Martin Sion said the partnership would support Hanoi’s rail expansion while helping Vietnam develop its railway manufacturing industry.
He added that the agreement would strengthen Alstom’s presence in Southeast Asia, where several cities are investing in urban railway systems to accommodate their growing populations.
Vingroup vice chairman and CEO Nguyen Viet Quang said transportation infrastructure has become one of the company’s major business priorities.
Apart from urban railways, Vingroup is pursuing opportunities in high-speed rail, bridges, ports and logistics facilities. Quang said the company intends to work with international technology providers to develop major infrastructure projects in Vietnam.
Vingroup, through its subsidiary Vinhomes, serves as the general contractor for Hanoi’s metro projects. Its agreement with Alstom will provide trains for the city’s rail network while gradually transferring manufacturing knowledge to Vietnam.
Hanoi has outlined plans for an extensive railway system under its Capital Master Plan through 2045.
The proposed network will cover 979 kilometers across 18 lines. Once completed, it would become one of Southeast Asia’s largest urban rail systems.
City authorities expect the network to ease road congestion and reduce pollution as more residents gain access to public transportation.
The agreement also allows Vietnam to establish a domestic railway manufacturing industry that could eventually serve other rail projects in the country.