Vietnam-China railway closed as coronavirus outbreak spreads

A train is seen on a Vietnam-China railway. A rail line connecting Gia Lam Station in Vietnam and China's Nanning and Beijing will be closed for several days amid the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak – Photo: TNO

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong said on February 3 that the Chinese side had agreed the suspension of the railway service, the local media reported.

The route will remain operational in the next one to two days before the suspension. Only passengers who have tickets can board trains on the route.

Hanoi Railway Passenger Transport Company, a subsidiary of Vietnam Railway Corporation, had earlier sold 36 tickets for a train leaving Gia Lam Station for Nanning on February 3. The company has stopped selling tickets for the next trains.

On February 2, Vietnam Railway Corporation proposed the Ministry of Transport suspend the operation of the rail route.

Tran Thien Canh, deputy general director of the corporation, said it had worked with China Railway Group and the two sides had agreed the suspension.

To prevent the coronavirus from spreading, the railway sector has sprayed disinfectant at Dong Dang, Lao Cai and Gia Lam stations and enhanced travel control on foreign passengers entering the country through these stations.

Passengers and railway staff on trains from China must go through temperature scanners and fill in health declaration forms at Dong Dang Station.

In addition, on-duty railway staff must wear face masks at all times, while passengers are provided with free face masks.