Hanoi has asked the Ministry of Construction to suspend passenger train services on the section between Hanoi and Gia Lam stations, which includes the historic Long Bien Bridge and the well-known train street.
Under the proposal, southbound passenger trains would terminate at Hanoi Station, while northbound services would end at Gia Lam Station, requiring adjustments to national railway operations.
The city also urged the ministry to instruct the Vietnam Railway Authority and Vietnam Railways Corporation to implement the plan, saying it would develop transport solutions to shuttle passengers between the two stations if approval is granted.
If adopted, the proposal would mean passenger trains no longer run across Long Bien Bridge or through the train street.
Hanoi further requested that railway infrastructure assets on the Gia Lam-Hanoi Station section be handed over to the city by the second quarter, enabling renovation as part of broader plans to revitalise historical and cultural spaces west of the Old Quarter and east of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
City authorities said they are studying architectural options for Metro Line 1 to ensure it passes through heritage areas without damaging their spatial structure or landscape.
The proposal aims to preserve and promote the historical value of Long Bien Bridge while developing cultural, service and tourism spaces beneath its 131 stone arches.
Hanoi is also working with the French Embassy in Vietnam on a technical assistance project to study renovation options for the bridge, with a focus on safety and heritage conservation.
The train street has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years, despite repeated warnings from railway authorities about violations of rail safety corridors.
