Line 1, Ho Chi Minh City Metro

Line 1 is a rapid transit line of the Ho Chi Minh City Metro, Vietnam.[1] Line 1 is the city's first metro line, connecting District 1 and Thu Duc City.[2][3] The line began construction in 2012, initially scheduled for completion in 2018. The project's completion date has been delayed to the end of 2024.[4][5][6] Ticket prices will range from VND9,000-23,000 ($0.39-1) per trip.[7]

Line 1
Tuyến số 1
Overview
StatusUnder Construction
OwnerVietnam Railways
LocaleHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Stations14
Service
TypeRapid transit
System Ho Chi Minh City Metro
Operator(s)Management Authority of Urban Railways
Depot(s)Long Binh
History
Planned openingJuly 2024
Technical
Line length19.7 kilometers (12.2 mi) (under construction)

History edit

The line was designed by Nippon Koei. The above-ground section was constructed by a joint venture between the Japanese rail corporation Sumitomo Group and Vietnamese state-owned corporation Cienco 6. The underground section was constructed by two Japanese companies, Shimizu Corporation and Maeda Corporation. 83% of the project finance was provided by Japanese government loans through Japan International Cooperation Agency, while the rest was provided by the Vietnamese government.[8]

On 13 September 2017, the authorities announced that Line 1 would be delayed for two years. Cost overruns, audits, and delayed payments to contractors contributed to the delay. The targeted completion date was set for 2020.[9] Planners expect the route to serve more than 160,000 passengers daily upon launch, increasing to 635,000 by 2030 and 800,000 by 2040. All stations along the route are expected to accommodate the disabled, with automatic ticket vending machines, telephone booths, restrooms, subway doors and information bulletins accessible to the handicapped and visually impaired.

On 28 January 2019, MAUR Director of Project Management Unit Duong Huu Hoa stated that as of December 2018, construction progress of Line 1 has reached 62%, below the target of 65%. The project has been criticised by the local press for its repeated delays.[10]

By August 2022, the line is 92% complete. 17 Hitachi train sets have arrived and are undergoing testing.[11][12]

By February 2024, the line is now 97.5% complete. Test runs have begone occurring, and MAUR are planning for commercial use in July 2024. [13]

Stations edit

The first three stations - Bến Thành, Opera House and Ba Son - are underground, with the remainder being on elevated track.[14]

Station Name Layout Transfers Ward District City
Bến Thành Underground  2  (under construction) Bến Thành District 1 Ho Chi Minh City
Opera House Underground Bến Nghé
Ba Son Underground
Văn Thánh Park Elevated Phường 22 Binh Thanh
Tân Cảng Elevated Phường 25
Thảo Điền Elevated Thảo Điền Thu Duc City
An Phú Elevated
Rạch Chiếc Elevated An Phú
Phước Long Elevated Trường Thọ
Bình Thái Elevated
Thủ Đức Elevated Bình Thọ
High Tech Park Elevated Linh Trung
National University Elevated
Suối Tiên Terminal Elevated Bình Thắng Dĩ An Bình Dương

References edit

  1. ^ "Home". maur.hochiminhcity.gov.vn. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  2. ^ Preston, Robert (2022-06-14). "Ho Chi Minh City metro to open in 2023". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  3. ^ VnExpress. "Saigon metro depot readies after receiving all 17 trains". VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  4. ^ VnExpress. "HCMC's first metro line delayed again - VnExpress International". VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  5. ^ "Vietnam Is Growing at 7%. Hanoi Can Do a Lot Better". Bloomberg.com. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  6. ^ "Unfinished business: Vietnam's long-awaited urban commuter rail". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  7. ^ VnExpress. "HCMC metro fare proposed at up to $1 - VnExpress International". VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  8. ^ Preston, Robert (14 June 2022). "Ho Chi Minh City metro to open in 2023". Railway Journal.
  9. ^ "Ho Chi Minh City selects underground contractors". Railway Gazette International. 26 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-01-12. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  10. ^ "Nguy cơ tạm dừng dự án Metro số 1 TP.HCM: Hậu quả khôn lường!". 14 October 2017.
  11. ^ VnExpress. "Last trains arrive for first Saigon metro - VnExpress International". VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  12. ^ Nguyen, Ngoc (2022-08-31). "Trains of HCMC's first metro line to conduct test runs in four months". The Saigon Times. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  13. ^ https://e.vnexpress.net/news/traffic/hcmc-s-metro-trains-to-run-on-trial-basis-throughout-tet-4710517.html
  14. ^ "4.2 Alignment Layout | 4.2 Alignment Layout". hcmcmetroline1-scc.com.vn. Retrieved 2024-04-22.