HCMC metro line starts daily trial run

Ho Chi Minh City's Management Authority for Urban Railways announced that the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line began its trial run on October 1. During this trial, running from October 1-17, trains will operate every 4 minutes and 30 seconds, with all operational roles, including drivers, dispatchers, and station staff, mobilized.

Each shift involves 71 workers, with two shifts planned per day. The trial will cover 47 scenarios, ranging from normal operations to emergency situations like fires, explosions, power outages, flooding, and signal failures at different points along the line.

The trial is being conducted in two phases, with the first overseen by Japanese NJPT consultants and the second by Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company 1. BVT System Safety Assessment Consultants, a joint venture between Bureau Veritas (France) and TEDI (Vietnam), will assess worker proficiency in handling emergency situations.

The Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line is 19.7 kilometers long, connecting Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Long Thanh Depot in Thu Duc City. The line has three underground and 11 elevated stations. Originally started in 2012, the project faced delays and cost overruns, reaching a total of VND 43.7 trillion (US$1.71 billion). The line will feature 17 trains, each with a capacity of 930 passengers.