Who is possibly excluded from the high-speed rail? Implications for transport equity in Vietnam

The development of HSR in Vietnam aims to have a major impact on social mobility within the country, as well as reduce congestion and improve traffic safety. Despite the potential for progress, the proposed HSR system raises concerns about its impact on low-income individuals and regional disparity. The high cost of tickets could prevent these populations from utilising this transport mode, limiting their access to increased mobility, and creating an inequality in travel opportunities. This paper examines the possible impact of HSR on transport equity in Vietnam using survey data collected from passengers travelling by conventional rail and intercity bus. Both binary and multinomial logit models were utilised to identify key factors influencing passengers’ choice of conventional rail and intercity bus over HSR. Results show that passengers with lower incomes and education levels are more likely to choose conventional rail and intercity buses.