Railway companies in Vietnam have temporarily suspended operations on some domestic rail routes beginning March 16, due to mounting concern over the new coronavirus, according to Vietnam Railway Corporation.

A staff sprays disinfectants along a train to prevent COVID-19 infection.
Railway companies in Vietnam have temporarily suspended operations
on some domestic rail routes over COVID-19 concern - PHOTO: VNA

Hanoi Railway Transport JSC noted that it has halted the operation of 10 trains on the Hanoi-Haiphong, Hanoi-Dong Dang, Hanoi-Thai Nguyen and Yen Vien-Ha Long routes.

On the Hanoi-Haiphong route, the firm stopped the daily operation of the HP1 train departing from Hanoi station and the LP2 train starting at Haiphong station.

Meanwhile, two trains---HP2 and LP7---will only run on weekends. Specifically, the HP2 train will depart from Haiphong station at 6:40 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays, while the LP7 train will leave Long Bien station at 6:26 p.m. on Fridays and start from Hanoi station at 6:15 p.m. on Sundays.

Besides this, the QT1/QY2 trains on the Hanoi-Thai Nguyen route, the DD5/DD6 trains linking Hanoi with Dong Dang and the 51501/51502 trains travelling from Yen Vien to Ha Long will only run on Sundays.

Hanoi Railway Company will refund all train fares to passengers affected by the suspension of the trains.

Earlier, the firm had temporarily halted the operation of the SP1/2 trains, running on the Hanoi-Lao Cai route. The NA1/2 trains, travelling between Hanoi and Vinh, had their schedules adjusted and will only run on weekends.

Saigon Railway Transport JSC also discontinued the operation of the SQN1/2 trains on the Saigon-Quy Nhon route.

The SPT1/2 trains, travelling from Saigon to Phan Thiet, will only run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays each week.

In addition, the HCMC-based railway operator applied a shorter itinerary to the SE21/22 trains that typically run on the Saigon-Hue route. They now travel between Saigon and Danang.

The railway authority also asked train ticket buyers on all ticketing channels, including train stations, ticket agents, websites and mobile apps, to provide their full names, national identity or passport numbers and phone numbers.

COVID-19, which is linked to the new coronavirus, has taken a heavy toll on the country’s transport activities. For the railway sector alone, the number of passengers last month fell 45% versus the figure seen in January and more than 47% over the same period last year