According to Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company Limited (HURC1), this is the final comprehensive inspection step before Ho Chi Minh City's first metro line goes into commercial operation.
The testing phase evaluates factors such as technical systems, train performance, coordination between operating departments, and smoothness in handling real-world situations.
During this period, there are 200 trains operating continuously from 5am to 10pm every day, traveling on a route of nearly 20km. Trains depart from Long Binh depot (Thu Duc City), and end at Ben Thanh station (District 1).
Trains operate every 8 - 12 minutes, travel time is about 30 minutes, stopping at each station for 30 seconds.
Previously, since the beginning of October, Metro Line 1 has entered the entire route testing phase (Trial-Run) with 47 scenarios deployed.
Scenarios include operating under normal conditions and handling emergencies such as fire, power outage, flooding or signal loss.
During the test, the train frequency was pushed to the highest level with the interval between trips being only 4 minutes and 30 seconds, to evaluate the ability to operate under heavy load conditions.
Currently, Metro Line 1 has completed 100% of the construction volume and completed the system safety assessment report, submitted to the Vietnam Railway Authority for appraisal.
On December 11, the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railways (MAUR), the joint consulting consortium NJPT, and the contractor Hitachi signed and awarded the conditional handover certificate (TOC) for the CP3 package. This package includes the supply of electromechanical equipment, locomotives, rails, and related items.
After receiving the contract, the investor transferred the assets of the CP3 package to HURC1 Company - the unit responsible for operating the metro line. This is an important step for the operating unit to master the equipment and systems before putting them into operation.
According to MAUR, the remaining work is being urgently completed, including acceptance of the fire prevention and fighting system, issuance of environmental permits, assessment and certification of system safety.
The final step is the acceptance of the entire project, which will be carried out by the State Inspection Council before officially entering commercial operation.
Metro Line 1 is the first urban railway line of Ho Chi Minh City, playing a role in connecting the city center with the eastern gateway, contributing to reducing traffic congestion and promoting socio-economic development.
Metro Line 1 is nearly 20km long, including 11 elevated stations and 3 underground stations, with a total investment of more than 43,700 billion VND.
After more than a decade of construction, Metro Line 1 is expected to officially operate from December 22, 2024.
In particular, during the first month, passengers will receive free tickets to encourage people to experience and get acquainted with this modern means of public transport.
