HANOI, June 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Vietnam plans to start construction of its first elevated railway linking the capital of Hanoi with its neighboring province of Ha Tay early next year.

    The 12.6-kilometer railway, stretching from Hanoi's Dong Da district to the province's Ha Dong town, will be the main route ofthe future railway network in the city, an official from the country's Vietnam Railway Department told Xinhua on Thursday.

    According to a feasibility study made by Chinese experts, the project will cost about 241 million US dollars.

    The elevated railway, scheduled to be built between April 2005 and September 2007, will be put into use in August 2008 after nearly one year of operating on trial basis.

    The railway is expected to serve around 16,000 passengers dailyin 2008 and 57,000 ones in 2032. Enditem