Cross-border railway hopes remain stuck on the tracks 19:24 | 13/04/2021 Cross-border railway hopes remain stuck on the tracks. Photo: freepik.com The blockage of the Suez Canal last month, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, has once again urged Vietnamese agencies to rethink the pros and cons in development of the railway network to gain bigger future benefits. Vietnam Railways (VNR) has been awaiting development of the new Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway route connecting to Lach Huyen International Gateway Seaport, which helps enhance connection in the East-West Corridor and between Vietnam and China. VNR deputy director Phan Quoc Anh told VIR, âThe project has remained on paper for months. We expect that the study will be fast-tracked so that we can tap into global growing trade. Many regional countries have developed their railway networks, while Vietnamâs remains in standstill.â