For the past three months, the sight of hundreds of medical staff from Bach Mai Hospital flocking to Hanoi and Giap Bat train stations early on weekdays to board trains to work has become familiar.
Trains are used to transport staff to and from Bach Mai Hospital (Photo: Vietnam Railways).
In the early days, there were many concerns about the sustainability of the model, given the fixed train schedule, with only one trip per day, while the working hours of medical staff could be extended due to the demands of patient care.
However, the reality after more than 3 months of operation has shown a different result.
According to VNR , traveling by train allows officials and employees to have a stable commute, minimizes the impact of traffic congestion, and ensures safety. During the journey, passengers are also served breakfast and refreshments, and can take advantage of the time to rest and recharge before the workday.
To date, the train has maintained a stable capacity of approximately 450-500 passengers per trip. From September, the railway industry added an extra carriage, increasing the carrying capacity to nearly 1,300 passengers per day.
The effectiveness of the model lies not only in the number of passengers. For Bach Mai Hospital, the dedicated train creates a stable method for transferring medical staff between the two facilities, contributing to ensuring the continuity of medical examination and treatment.
Associate Professor Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, said that bringing the Ninh Binh facility into operation aims to bring high-quality medical services closer to the people, reduce travel costs, and create conditions for people to access advanced techniques right in their locality. In this context, the option of transporting staff by rail meets both time requirements and creates stability in work organization.
Not only Bach Mai Hospital, but the railway industry is also implementing a similar model in Hai Phong .
In September 2025, the HP15/HP16 train pair was established to transport officials and civil servants of Hai Phong city to and from work. After one year of operation, from September 22, 2025 to September 22, 2026, the train pair has made 500 trips, serving approximately 235,500 passengers on the Hai Duong station - Hai Phong station route.
Notably, passengers include not only officials, civil servants, and workers, but also students, people going for medical checkups, and tourists . From a model initially created to serve commuting needs, the train has gradually expanded its role, contributing to connecting the East and West regions and meeting a more diverse range of travel needs.
The journey wasn't always smooth sailing. In the early days, there were times when the ship only served about 100 passengers per trip, and revenue wasn't enough to cover costs. But as the route and service quality improved, along with preferential ticket prices, the number of passengers gradually increased.
From the fourth quarter of 2025, the average number of passengers per trip is expected to increase from 112 to 345. To date, each trip serves an average of 546 passengers, mostly city officials and employees commuting to work.
For workers, time on board also becomes a time for rest and preparation for the workday; many take advantage of the opportunity to complete reports, handle tasks, or even take a nap during the journey.
For the first time, a dedicated train is transporting doctors and medical staff from Bach Mai Hospital between Hanoi and Ninh Binh.Source: https://baoxaydung.vn/tu-hoai-nghi-den-hieu-qua-nhung-doan-tau-rieng-cho-nguoi-di-lam-19226100415514754.htm
