Repairs to a railway bridge that was severed in March are wrapping up, and Vietnam's north-south service is expected to resume later this month.
In a statement on Monday, Saigon Railways Transport Company said that work on the new US$13.2 million Ghenh Bridge would be completed by June 26, a month ahead of schedule, reports Thanh Nien.
Last March, the bridge was struck by a barge, causing the structure to collapse and severing the country’s north-south rail service. Since then, train passengers have had to travel by bus between Binh Duong province’s Di An Station and Dong Nai province’s Bien Hoa Station in order to catch a train.
After the accident, authorities arrested the barge’s two drivers, who claimed the accident happened as a result of a broken engine.
According to VnExpress, the service disruption severely affected the company’s profits, as it saw a 28% and 18% year-on-year decrease in freight volume and ridership, respectively.
The historic bridge was built at the turn of the 20th century by the firm once led by French architect Gustav Eiffel. However, contrary to many sources, the bridge was built after Eiffel left the company in disgrace; he was accused of financial irregularities surrounding the first Panama Canal project.
The railway company also said that it would be launching new routes for the summer with four daily trains between Nha Trang and Saigon and four between Phan Thiet and Saigon.
[Photo via Tap Chi Giao Thong]
