Hanoi, Jan 7: Hanoi has proposed suspending passenger train services on the inner-city railway section passing through the popular “railway cafe street,” citing safety concerns and urban conservation goals.
In a proposal sent to the Ministry of Construction, the Hanoi People’s Committee recommended stopping passenger train operations between Hanoi Station and Long Bien Station. Under the plan, southbound trains would terminate at Hanoi Station, while northbound services would end at Gia Lam Station, with passenger transfers handled by city transport authorities. If approved, no passenger trains would run through the densely populated stretch where cafes line the tracks.
The railway cafe street, located mainly in Kham Thien and Phung Hung areas of Hoan Kiem district, has become a major tourist attraction, but authorities warn it poses serious safety risks. Cafes operate within a railway safety corridor, and tourists often crowd onto the tracks to take photos, obstructing train movements. Repeated enforcement efforts have struggled to keep the area clear.
The proposal also seeks the handover of railway infrastructure management on the Gia Lam–Hanoi section by Q2 2026, enabling urban renewal and heritage conservation near the Old Quarter, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and the Long Bien Bridge. Hanoi also plans to expand cultural and tourism spaces under the railway arches and ensure future metro development protects the city’s historic areas.
