repair of the main line. In the 1990s, however, a section of the line between Da Lat railway station and the nearby village of Trại Mát was restored and returned to active use as a tourist attraction. A 2002 planning document listed the restoration of the entire Da Lat–Thap Cham railway as a priority for infrastructure development for Da Lat and Lâm Đồng Province, including the upgrading of Da Lat railway station to handle passenger and cargo transportation. The proposed renewal received the backing of provincial and local governments, and the national government indicated that private companies would also be allowed to participate in the reconstruction of the railway. The project would also include a connection to the North–South Railway at Thap Cham, allowing trains to circulate between Da Lat and the rest of the country for the first time since the Vietnam War. In December 2009, four rail cars restored to look like the rail cars used on the Da Lat–Thap Cham line in the 1930s were put into use on the Da Lat–Trai Mat tourist railroad, carrying signage reading "Dalat Plateau Rail Road". Architecture Built in 1938, Da Lat railway station was designed in the Art Deco architectural style by French architects Moncet and Reveron, although it incorporates the high, pointed roofs characteristic of the Cao Nguyen communal buildings of ethnic minorities from Vietnam's Central Highlands. The three roofs, said to represent the three peaks of Dalat's iconic Lang Biang mountain, are also reminiscent of Normandy's Trouville-Deauville Station. Under each roof is a multicoloured glass window, and under the central roof is a large clock, which has recently been restored. Inside the station, the elevated roofs create a raised ceiling. At the front of the station is a Porte-cochère, or coach gate, supported by two rows of twelve columns each. The station's unique design earned it recognition as a national historical monument in 2001. See also Rail transport in Vietnam Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway Notes and references References Bibliography External links A Brief History of Dalat Railroad Railway stations in Vietnam Da Lat Art Deco architecture French colonial architecture in Vietnam Buildings and structures in Lâm Đồng province Tourist attractions in Lâm Đồng province