Vietnam all set to open 20-km Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 by July this year

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Metro Rail Today): Ho Chi Minh City's much-anticipated metro Line 1 is progressing towards its scheduled opening in July, with a current focus on continuous trial operations. The Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has reported that Line 1, spanning 20km from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien, is now 97.5% complete. The line will feature 14 stations, including three underground ones.

The ongoing trial operations, conducted during the Tet or Lunar New Year public holiday, involve a comprehensive testing phase over seven days. A dedicated team of 40, including personnel from project suppliers, is rigorously testing the systems and all 17 trains supplied by Hitachi for Line 1.

Each of the 17 three-car trains, provided by Hitachi under a Yen 37 billion ($349 million) contract signed in June 2013, measures 61.5m in length and can accommodate up to 930 passengers, with a seating capacity for 147 and standing room for 783. The trains are designed to reach speeds of up to 110km/h on elevated sections and up to 80km/h on the underground stretch between Ben Thanh and Opera House.

Hitachi's involvement in the Line 1 project extends beyond train supply, encompassing tracklaying, electrical and mechanical works, as well as the provision of signaling and telecommunications systems, platform screen doors, and an automatic fare collection system.

The financing structure for Line 1 includes a significant contribution from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), covering 83% of the total $2.5 billion project cost, with the remainder provided by the city government. Nippon Koei Group has served as the main designer and consultant, with Sumitomo and Vietnamese state-owned contractor Cienco 6 handling the construction of elevated sections, and the underground section being built by a joint venture of Shimizu and Maeda of Japan.

As Ho Chi Minh City eagerly anticipates the metro Line 1's opening in July, the continuous trial operations during the Lunar New Year holiday mark a crucial step towards ensuring a seamless and efficient launch of this transformative urban rail project.