Open night train from Da Lat to Trai Mat

From mid-April, the Da Lat - Trai Mat tourist train will have an additional night trip and open a movie screening room about Da Lat's history on the train.

The Da Lat - Trai Mat tourist train will operate an additional night trip, selling tickets to tourists from April 14. The train passes through flower-growing areas with bright lights, serving tourists to admire the city of thousands of flowers at night.

According to Vietnam Railways Corporation , before officially running on April 14, the railway industry organized train runs with a trial price of 1,000 VND on April 11-13. Night trains include DL11/12, DL13/14 departing from 6:15 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. every day.

Space outside Da Lat station. Photo: faliqhan

Ticket prices range from 72,000 VND to 100,000 VND for a one-way or return trip. Passengers buying round-trip tickets receive a 25% discount, while passengers buying group tickets of 10 or more receive a 15-40% discount. The train serves artichoke tea and is equipped with free wifi.

To enhance the experience for tourists, the ancient train line Da Lat - Trai Mat also has a room screening documentary films about the history of Da Lat station and the cog railway line Thap Cham - Da Lat. The screening room is open to the public from April 14.

Previously, Vietnam Railways Corporation organized many outstanding events at Da Lat station and on the ancient train route Da Lat - Trai Mat such as launching the "Train - Flower Street" movement, renovating the station, renovating locomotives and carriages in an antique style, organizing events and performing arts on the train.

Mr. Le Anh Kiet, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Da Lat City, said that the Da Lat - Trai Mat station line currently in operation is part of the Thap Cham - Da Lat cog railway line that will soon be restored.

In August 2023, Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee issued a plan to orient railway transport development until 2030, with a vision to 2045, focusing on restoring, renovating and effectively exploiting the unique cog railway line Da Lat - Thap Cham for tourism purposes. The cog railway line is more than 83 km long, with only the nearly 7 km long Trai Mat - Da Lat section currently operating tourist trains.

"The Da Lat - Trai Mat railway is a unique product of the city's tourism. The two stations are also places where many young tourists check in and take photos," said Mr. Kiet.

Foreign tourists check in next to the old train building at Da Lat station. Photo: michelutti

The train runs on cogwheels, crossing the coastal region to the plateau. In addition to the cogwheel track, cogwheels are also installed in the locomotive to overcome the steep passes on the Lam Vien plateau.

The Thap Cham - Da Lat route is one of the first two mountain cog railways in the world, started in 1908, completed in 1932 and put into use 4 years later. This is a long and unique cog railway, not only in Vietnam but also in the world. After 1975, almost all the rails and sleepers on this route were removed.

The Thap Cham - Da Lat railway line passes through Phan Rang city, Ninh Son district, Ninh Thuan, to Don Duong district, Da Lat city, Lam Dong. The railway restoration project is expected to be implemented from January 2025 to June 2029. After completion, there will be 16 stations and passenger stations, two additional stations and two passenger stations compared to the old line. Bridges, tunnels, and stations will be newly built. The section from Trai Mat station to Da Lat station, which is currently in operation, will also be upgraded, and the stations will be renovated and preserved.

Before the opening of the night route, the Da Lat - Trai Mat train ran 1-2 trips per day. There were 2-3 trips on weekends. Ticket prices ranged from 88,000-98,000 VND per trip depending on seat type.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/mo-tau-dem-da-lat-trai-mat-post382767.html