The above information was shared by Mr. Phan Cong Bang - Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR) - on January 17.
Metro Line 1, after nearly a month of commercial operation (from December 22, 2024), has been interrupted three times, mainly due to signal errors and adverse weather such as heavy rain and lightning.
According to Mr. Phan Cong Bang, the electromechanical and signal equipment under the CP3 package (purchase of electromechanical equipment, locomotives, railways and maintenance) is carried out by contractor Hitachi (Japan).
This contract was signed in 2013 but the installation was not implemented until 2020. Although the system was designed according to Japanese standards, the climate conditions in Ho Chi Minh City, especially the hot and humid weather, have caused some signal errors, mainly related to the platform barrier doors. When it rains heavily, the barrier door sensor system is more sensitive and can automatically close, different from the original process.
"These issues have been assessed during the trial operation and acceptance process. We expect to fix all errors by the end of March to ensure more stable system operation," Mr. Bang affirmed.
According to MAUR leaders, in addition to technical factors, the metro line operating team also faced challenges in the first days of operation.
As this is the first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City, the operators, despite being trained, still lack practical experience. To ensure absolute safety, the operating procedures are being carried out carefully and thoroughly.
Mr. Phan Cong Bang cited the incident on December 27, 2024, when heavy rain and lightning affected the signal system at Tan Cang Station (Binh Thanh District). At that time, Metro Line 1 had to temporarily suspend operations to ensure safety.
“The metro’s electrical safety system has been automatically activated and can restore itself. However, we chose to check manually and switch to manual control mode to ensure absolute safety, even though this method takes more time,” said Mr. Bang.
MAUR leaders also emphasized that in many other countries, newly opened metro lines also encountered some problems in the early stages. Minor errors need to be adjusted to suit actual conditions, ensuring smooth operation in the future.
People are experiencing Metro Line 1 for free. From January 21, 2025, Metro Line 1 will officially charge from 6,000 VND to 20,000 VND/trip.
Monthly passes for regular passengers cost 300,000 VND, while students only have to pay 150,000 VND. Unlimited rides for one or three days cost 40,000 VND and 90,000 VND respectively.
Approved in 2007 and started construction in 2012, Metro Line 1 is nearly 20 km long, connecting the center of Ho Chi Minh City with the eastern gateway. The entire line has 14 stations, including 11 elevated stations and 3 underground stations, with a total investment of more than 43,700 billion VND.
