There is a spring on the trains

On the afternoon of the final day of the lunar year, while Hai Phong’s streets were ablaze with flags and flowers and people hurried home for family gatherings, staff in the duty room at Hai Phong Station continued to monitor train diagrams and field communication calls as trains passed through. Their concentration and sense of responsibility made them almost forget the fleeting moment when the old year gives way to the new.

Amid this atmosphere, leaders of the Viet Nam Railways Corporation (VNR) made a surprise visit to extend Lunar New Year greetings to those working through the holiday. For many years now, it has been a tradition that at the busiest time of the year, when families are together, the sector’s leadership visits stations and duty teams to encourage workers.

Dang Sy Manh, Chairman of VNR, shared: “We always want to offer a small gesture of encouragement to railway officers and workers. Their work is quiet but vitally important, ensuring the safety of every train and providing the best possible service to the public and passengers.”

Quietly keeping the rhythm of peace

With more than ten years at the Hai Phong track team, manning the Dat Bridge crossing, Tet for Mac The Anh would not be complete without the sound of train whistles. This year is no exception, as he and his colleagues take turns on duty throughout the holiday. “The joy of passengers travelling safely on every train is also our joy and happiness,” he said.

At a level crossing near Vat Cach Station, Le Thu Thuy set aside the family year-end meal to complete her shift. “At home, everything is probably ready by now, and a meal without the woman of the house feels a little lonely. But the crossing needs someone on duty, the work cannot be left undone,” she confided.

At Vat Cach Station, a key freight hub at the gateway to Hai Phong, work becomes even more hectic in the final days of the year. According to Nguyen Phuc Long, Head of Vat Cach Station, since the Hoa Phuong Do train entered service in May 2025, passenger volumes have risen by 40%, while rail freight through the station has grown sharply. In the first quarter of 2026, cargo handling is estimated to increase by 200%, with full-year growth of around 120% year on year.

“We are focusing on strengthening management capacity, training personnel, and working closely with Hai Phong Port and local authorities to meet rising transport demand,” Long said.

Preparing for new journeys

Dang Sy Manh noted that the national rail network currently spans 3,222 km with 303 stations. The sector is developing model-station standards, improving service quality and moving towards sustainable development.

Alongside Tet transport duties, the railway is actively preparing human resources for the Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong line, which broke ground in December 2025; training drivers and transport operators at home and abroad; restructuring the organisation; and developing railway-supporting industrial zones.

“Above all, it is the spirit of unity and discipline, each person doing their part while pursuing a shared goal,” he emphasised.

The Tet transport plan from February 3 to March 8, 2026 was carefully prepared. The Railway Transport Joint Stock Company deployed 791 passenger carriages, operating 906 services on the Ha Noi-Ho Chi Minh City route with 384,000 seats, and 988 services on other routes with 377,700 seats. During the peak period, an additional 33 short-haul trains were run to serve spring travel.

By February 15, 2026, 486,800 tickets had been sold, generating 413.5 billion VND in revenue; online sales accounted for 63%. On-time departure reached 97.2%, while on-time arrival stood at 87.4%.

On New Year’s Eve, 5,858 employees across the sector were on duty. The Viet Nam Railway Trade Union visited and presented gifts to 770 night-duty teams, ensuring all units received encouragement. Thousands of gift packages and train tickets were also distributed to support workers in difficult circumstances ahead of the Lunar New Year.

The “Happiness Train” and the nation’s spring

Notably, at the stroke of midnight, the “Happiness Train” rolled along the North-South line, carrying hopes and confidence for the year ahead. Along the journey, red envelopes and wishes of peace were handed directly to train crews and passengers.

The “Happiness Train” is an initiative jointly launched by Nhan Dan Newspaper and VNR, with the aim of creating a fresh beginning for 2026, where happiness is not only a destination but present throughout the journey.

For the first time, a train bearing the national flag and the logo of Nhan Dan travelled the length of the country. Each carriage became a mobile cultural space, telling stories of Viet Nam’s people, regions, cuisine and identity.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, amid the steady rhythm of steel wheels on rails, passengers received lucky money and New Year wishes from leaders of the organising agencies. In that moment, spring seemed to ripple along each beat of the train, linking villages, families and dreams.

As the old year closes and the new one begins, individual journeys on spring trains merge into the nation’s spring journey, a journey of trust, solidarity and aspiration.

There is a spring not only in every home, but also where silent workers keep the rails in rhythm and trains tirelessly run through the night, a spring named responsibility, sharing and love on the trains.