This is where the Control Center (OCC), train parking, repair and maintenance systems for equipment and tracks are located.
High pressure task
In the central control room, a working day for team leader Le Van Vinh and his teammates begins with checking operations on the computer screen. The large room has 5 rows of computers and large screens displaying the operating status of the entire system.
“All information from the train driver, stations and electrical systems must be fully checked and confirmed before creating the train schedule. On time, the first train will leave Long Binh depot, heading to Ben Thanh station,” Vinh shared.
Sitting next to Vinh, Nguyen Thi Mong Tuyen - a traffic controller on the entire route - never took her eyes off her computer screen. She closely monitored the distance, speed, and direction of the train through the camera system. "When there is any problem, I have to handle it immediately to ensure that it does not affect the entire system," Tuyen said.
Although she was used to this job, Ms. Tuyen was still nervous the first time she performed the operation on the test train. “At that time, my heart beat fast, but the greatest joy was that everything ran smoothly and safely,” Ms. Tuyen laughed.
The dedicated
A few hundred meters from the control center, Pham Xuan Tu - a train driver - begins his workday by reporting the train number, the running plan and checking his alcohol level. Then he receives the keys, necessary equipment and goes to the train yard.
Before departure, Mr. Tu meticulously checks each wheel, signal light, and joint of the train cars. This process lasts about 40 minutes. “If even one light bulb fails, we immediately change to another train,” said Mr. Tu.
A shift of Mr. Tu includes 4 trips from Long Binh to Ben Thanh and vice versa, each trip takes about 60 minutes. Although he does not remember exactly how many trips he made during the training and testing process, he always keeps in mind the biggest goal of ensuring safety and satisfying passengers.
Located in the middle of Long Binh Depot is the Metro Line 1 Train Maintenance and Repair Center. After each trip, trains are brought back to be meticulously inspected in every detail.
Technicians not only focus on checking the components under the ship, but also conduct thorough checks both inside and on the roof, ensuring that all equipment is working perfectly and without problems.
Ms. Van Thi Huu Tam - Deputy Director of Urban Railway Company No. 1 (HURC1) - said that all 500 employees including: 291 station staff, 9 station managers, 61 train driving technicians, 24 dispatch technicians, 64 maintenance staff... have been thoroughly trained.
According to Ms. Tam, after the trial run at 100% capacity (from November 11 to 17), all ship service staff are still working to be truly proficient when officially serving customers.
Metro Line 1 will be divided into two operational phases.
Phase 1 (first 6 months), Metro No. 1 will operate 200 trips/day with 9 trains, from 5am to 10pm. Train intervals during rush hour are 8 minutes, and during normal hours are 12 minutes.
Phase 2 is expected to increase to 276 trips/day. Operating time is from 5am to 11:30pm, with 5-8 minute intervals during peak hours and 10 minutes during normal hours, 15 minutes during off-peak hours.
Each train trip lasts 29 minutes, with a route of 19.7km from Ben Thanh Station (District 1) to Suoi Tien Station (Thu Duc City).
