According to Urban Railway Company No. 1 (HURC1), yesterday (December 24), Metro Line No. 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) attracted great attention from people at some times due to coinciding with Christmas.
Although the number of passengers at elevated stations has slightly decreased, Ben Thanh underground station - the central point of Metro Line 1 - still welcomes a large number of passengers.
According to HURC1 Company, on December 24, the initial plan was to operate 200 trips serving about 39,000 passengers, however, in reality, it had to be increased to 220 trips with more than 90,000 passengers. The operating time was also extended to 11pm (instead of just 10pm) to meet demand.
According to HURC1 Company, during the operation, Metro Line 1 encountered many difficulties. The situation of passengers eating and drinking on the train affected hygiene and aesthetics, reducing the experience of other passengers.
In particular, at some times, the number of passengers is so large that the train driver cannot close the door, leading to trips departing later than planned.
Metro Line 1 recorded 150,000 passengers on its first day of commercial operation (December 22), far exceeding expectations. However, on Monday (December 23), the number of passengers dropped to 38,751.
Currently, people can experience Metro Line 1 for free for 30 days. Then, from January 21, 2025, the Metro line will officially charge a fee of 6,000 to 20,000 VND/trip, depending on the distance.
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 20km 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.
