Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Railway Authority (VRA)has insisted that it will take a hard line on railway traffic safety violationsalong Hanoi’s popular "railway café street" sketching across the innerdistricts of Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung in its recent reportto the Ministry of Transport (MoT).
Its stance aligns with the MoT’s direction, VRA said, addingthat measures will be adopted to prevent crowds of people from accessing the areato shoot photos and film videos, posing a high risk of accidents.
Regarding proposals from rail-side residents to fix safetyconcerns, the authority agreed that education on railway safety should bestrengthened. It has asked local administrations in collaboration with the VietnamRailways (VNR) to accelerate safety awareness campaigns, provide residents inthe area with updated train timetables and encourage them to make writtencommitments to strictly observing safety rules.
However, it dismissed the recommendation of installing extrasound signals of training crossing and electronic billboards displaying traintimetables along the street, saying the area is already so cramped that if the installation isdone, it will affect train drivers’ visibility. Moreover, the train crossingwarning system will potentially disrupt railway signals, it said.
Measures will be adopted to prevent crowds of people from accessing the area to shoot photos and film videos, posing a high risk of accidents, according to the VRA. (Photo: VNA)
According to longtime residents in downtown Hanoi, the"railway café street" was a modern invention. This area used to beapartment buildings close to the railway, and over the years, these apartmentsdeteriorated.
After some foreign tourists discovered this place in 2018, pictures they took widely circulated on the internet. Quickly catching upwith the trend, some households have renovated and repaired the facades to turnthem into coffee shops.
By the end of 2019, this special street was forced to shutdown due to safety concerns.
In the last months, domestic and foreign tourists, includingmany young people in the capital city, have returned to this 'street' for itsuniqueness. Many people even lie down on the railway tracks to pose forphotos.
Last month, coffee shops lining the “railway café street” were once again toldthey must close over safety concerns.
Tourists have been turned away from the spot as barricadesand signs warning of dangerous areas are put up and local police officers arepatrolling, prompting residents here to send petitions to ask for a moreflexible solution from the authorities that can help them maintain theirlivelihoods while ensuring safety for tourists./.
Its stance aligns with the MoT’s direction, VRA said, addingthat measures will be adopted to prevent crowds of people from accessing the areato shoot photos and film videos, posing a high risk of accidents.
Regarding proposals from rail-side residents to fix safetyconcerns, the authority agreed that education on railway safety should bestrengthened. It has asked local administrations in collaboration with the VietnamRailways (VNR) to accelerate safety awareness campaigns, provide residents inthe area with updated train timetables and encourage them to make writtencommitments to strictly observing safety rules.
However, it dismissed the recommendation of installing extrasound signals of training crossing and electronic billboards displaying traintimetables along the street, saying the area is already so cramped that if the installation isdone, it will affect train drivers’ visibility. Moreover, the train crossingwarning system will potentially disrupt railway signals, it said.
Measures will be adopted to prevent crowds of people from accessing the area to shoot photos and film videos, posing a high risk of accidents, according to the VRA. (Photo: VNA)After some foreign tourists discovered this place in 2018, pictures they took widely circulated on the internet. Quickly catching upwith the trend, some households have renovated and repaired the facades to turnthem into coffee shops.
By the end of 2019, this special street was forced to shutdown due to safety concerns.
In the last months, domestic and foreign tourists, includingmany young people in the capital city, have returned to this 'street' for itsuniqueness. Many people even lie down on the railway tracks to pose forphotos.
Last month, coffee shops lining the “railway café street” were once again toldthey must close over safety concerns.
Tourists have been turned away from the spot as barricadesand signs warning of dangerous areas are put up and local police officers arepatrolling, prompting residents here to send petitions to ask for a moreflexible solution from the authorities that can help them maintain theirlivelihoods while ensuring safety for tourists./.
VNA
