During a working session with Hanoi’s leaders on August 7, Tom Richardson, the Asia-Pacific manager of France’s ALSTOM Transport Group expressed his desire to invest in the capital’s railway construction project.

The Metro project to build a route from Hanoi to Nhon has a total capital of EUR500 million coming from Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds, including EUR200 million from French Government. The blue print for the project will be finished by the end of October 2008.

A study on another route from Sword Lake to Thang Long Bridge at an estimated cost of US$1.2 billion, is expected to be completed by Japanese consultants in October.

Also, a route from Ngoc Khanh – Lang – Hoa Lac T-junction is being considered by Malaysian consultants.

Nguyen Van Khoi, vice chairman of the Hanoi city people’s committee has asked relevant departments to coordinate with the ALSTOM Transport Group in the Metro project.