REOPENING OF RAIL LINE INCREASES NORTH VIETNAMESE LOGISTIC CAPABILITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01003A002200150001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 1, 1965
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2005/0ggt* tDP79T01003A002200150001-0
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
CIA/RR CB 65-15
March 1965
Copy No.
INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
REOPENING OF RAIL LINE
INCREASES NORTH VIETNAMESE LOGISTIC CAPABILITY
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
Approved ' For Release 2005/05EIIERbP79T01003A0022001
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
Office of Research and Reports
GROUP I
Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
l sificetion
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WARNING
This material contains information affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,
Title 18, USC, Secs. 793 and 794, the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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REOPENING OF RAIL LINE
INCREASES NORTH VIETNAMESE LOGISTIC CAPABILITY
Rail service has begun on a rail line south of Vinh in North Vietnam,
thereby improving the logistic capability of North Vietnam toward Laos
and South Vietnam. The new rail line, which is actually a restoration of
part of the former Hanoi-Saigon line, extends from Duc Tho approximately
100 km to the south, or nearly one half of the distance from Vinh to the
Demilitarized Zone (see the map). It was known that this line, which has
been under observation for some time, was being reconstructed and that
some work trains were observed on the line. Recent information indicates,
however, that the line is now in operation and that lightweight railroad cars
are operating scheduled service on the line. The line is aimed at develop-
ment of the mountain areas, according to North Vietnamese publications.
The costs of reconstructing a rail line for this purpose alone, however,
cannot be justified on economic grounds. There is no rail connection
between the present terminus of the new line at Duc Tho and the main
line to Vinh 18 km to the northeast. * However, the Duc Tho line does
offer an alternate route to road transport south from the important supply
bases of Vinh and Ben Thuy to a'point on a spur line which extends west
from a junction at Tan Ap along route 12** within 45 km by road of the
Laotian border.
25X1 I Ithe spur line from the junction at
Tan p to route 12 is more heavily used.than the main line south of the
junction. Route 12 is the key route over which military supplies are
shipped to Communist forces- in southern Laos and over infiltration
trails into the northern part of South Vietnam. Therefore, there is a
The main obstacles in the way of completion of the line from Vinh to
Duc Tho are two rivers that are unbridged at present. Construction on one
of these bridges is underway, but it has been estimated that it will be at
least 2 years before both are completed. That completion of this line is
contemplated, however, is indicated by the announcement that the North
Vietnamese will strengthen further the section between Thanh Luyen and
Do Vang so that heavier shipments may be brought in "when the 18-km
sector of the railroad linking Vinh with the Duc Tho station is finally com-
pleted. " There is no evidence, however, of new. rail construction south
of the present operational section.
** When more than one route uses the same road, that part of. the road
has been assigned both route numbers. For example, routes 8 and 15
using the same section are shown on the map as route 8/15, and routes
15 and 12 using the same section are shown as route 15/ 12. The text,
however,` uses only one number, as "route 811 or "route 12".
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good probability that the new line is being used for military purposes. It
is possible that reconstruction of the line is part of a contingency plan- to
support anticipated large-scale Communist military activity in the pro-
vinces south of the 17th parallel.
1. Scope and Significance of Construction
The newly reconstructed single-track, meter-gauge rail line extends
from Duc Tho, on the Ngan Pho River southwest of Vinh, to a point 100 km
to the south. Service apparently is available on the main line to about 20 km
south of the Bai Duc Thon staging area and also on a spur line to Thanh Lang,
near route 12, 9 km by rail from the junction on the main line at Tan Ap.
he present
line follows the route of the prewar line from Vinh to the south
Route 12" is the main supply road for Communist forces in southern
Laos and also the route followed by some supplies for ultimate infiltration
into South Vietnam. In the last 2 months, military convoys of 30 to 60
trucks have been moving frequently along route 12 into' southern Laos
carrying men and supplies. Some of these trucks reportedly make the
return trip carrying bamboo into North Vietnam.
he railroad rom the north to Vinh as been extended to a new
railroad station at Ben Thuy and is under construction to the wharf area.
Ben Thuy is the most important port in the southern part of North Vietnam.
Its warehouse space is much larger than at other ports in the area, and its
facilities have been expanded recently, whereas construction at other ports
in this area has been insignificant. Ben Thuy and Vinh, therefore, prob-
ably are the most important bases in North Vietnam for supplying Com-
munist forces in Laos over routes 7, 8, and 12 and for supplying the large
North Vietnamese military force in the area south of Vinh near the
Demilitarized Zone. Supplies for land and sea infiltration to South Vietnam
also possibly may be moved through Vinh and Ben Thuy.
There is no evidence of rail ferry docking areas at either Ben Thuy
or Duc Tho, and no rail ferries were seen between the two towns.
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Moreover, there is no docking area near Duc Tho at which coastal ships
could unload, but two new roads have been constructed in the area that
would permit goods to be transferred by truck between the two railheads.
One of these roads has been built from the new railroad station at Ben Thuy
to route IA, whereas the other has been constructed south of the Ngan Pho
River from route IA to route 8, which in turn meets the rail line a few
kilometers south of Duc Tho. * By using these new roads and the new rail
line to transport men':and supplies destined to be moved down route 12
into Laos instead of trucks all the way from Ben Thuy to Thanh Lang, the
trucks would be saved a round trip of about 170 km. The use of the new
rail line for this purpose would require only one more loading and one
more unloading operation than if trucks were used for the whole distance.
Probably there is sufficient manpower available to make these transloading
operations relatively inexpensive. Furthermore, if trains carrying goods,
such as timber, * from the south to Duc Tho have unused space available
for the return trip, it would be economical to use this space to transport
men and supplies destined for Laos or possibly South Vietnam down to
route 12 because it would save some gasoline and would free some trucks
and drivers for operations elsewhere.
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operational to about 170561 N - 105?59: E but did not seem to be in use
south of Tan Ap, although the rail spur to the southwest appeared to be
in use. Passing sidings were observed at four places along the line.
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Analyst-:
Coord:
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 QYIYIY I I d Crsr o
NAMES AND BOUNDARY REPRESENTATION '-_._ 301
ARE NOT NECESSARILY AUTHORITATIVE
LAS
Lang Xa
Xom Gi
NORTH VIETNAM
RAIL LINE RECONSTRUCTION
Railroad, operable
Railroad, inoperable
0 5 10 15 Miles
0 5 10 15 Kllameters
SECRET
A"Pelved E 200150 - ao~P I w?
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
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