Inside a passenger train on HCM City’s first metro line. The opening of the line will be delayed until 2022 (Photo: VNA)The HCM City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) said the Long Binh- Binh Thai elevated section in District 9 in the newly established Thu Duc city will operate for a trial period in the fourth quarter before a final testof the entire metro line is completed.
Work began last week on the power supply system for the power stations alongthe line, according to MAUR.
The Metro Line 1 was previously expected to open later this year, butcomplications due to the COVID-19 pandemic have delayed the start of commercialoperations.
MAUR said it would speed up other tasks such as training and technologytransfer.
As of the end of last year, about 82 percent of the work had been completedagainst the targeted 85 percent.
Last year, Japanese and European engineers who oversee installation of thetracks could not enter the country after international flights were suspendedbecause of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Vietnam closed its borders and suspended all international flights in Marchlast year.
In addition, the first train carriages were scheduled to arrive in April lastyear, but they did not arrive until October. Shipments of other equipment fromoverseas were also affected, according to MAUR.
The line, the first of the city’s eight proposed routes, comprises four mainpackages and is funded in part through an official development assistance (ODA)loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Since construction began in 2012, it has faced many problems, including slowdisbursement of funds and a personnel crisis.
The line, with total investment of 2.05 billion USD, has 14 stations (11elevated stations and three underground stations) through districts 1, 2, 9, BinhThanh and Thu Duc and neighbouring Binh Duong province.
The 19.7-km metro route will have 17 Japanese-made trains with three carriageseach that will run at a maximum speed of 110km per hour above ground and 80kmper hour below ground.
Second metro line
For Metro Line 2, which will connect Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Tham Luongin District 12, site clearance and relocation of technical infrastructure andbidding procedures will be completed by the end of 2021 and selection ofcontractors in 2022, according to MAUR.
The first phase of Metro Line 5 will include a pre-feasibility study reportthat will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval in the fourthquarter of 2021. Metro Line 3A will have a pre-feasibility study reportcompleted in 2022.
Eight metro lines running a total 220 km are slated to be built.
With a population of about 13 million, HCM City has been struggling withtraffic congestion for years. The number of personal vehicles has surged, with825,000 cars and 8.12 million motorbikes, while public transport remainsunderdeveloped./.
VNA
