After ten years of construction, Vietnam’s first subway line began operation in the capital Hanoi on November 6. This is a big step forward for public transportation in Vietnamese cities. The first part of the broader city’s subway network now runs over 13 kilometers on an elevated track, with 12 stations between Cat Linh in the north-central part of Hanoi and Ha Dong in the city’s southwestern suburbs. The other track, Van Mieu Line, is expected to open in 2023. Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line was built by China Railway Sixth Bureau under China Railway Group, ranking…
After ten years of construction, Vietnam’s first subway line began operation in the capital Hanoi on November 6. This is a big step forward for public transportation in Vietnamese cities.
The first part of the broader city’s subway network now runs over 13 kilometers on an elevated track, with 12 stations between Cat Linh in the north-central part of Hanoi and Ha Dong in the city’s southwestern suburbs. Another track, Van Mieu Line, is expected to open in 2023.
The Jilinhe East Line was constructed by China Railway Six Group, a subsidiary of China Railway Group. In 2020, it will rank as the world’s second largest engineering construction company. Construction started in October 2011. The construction cost is estimated to be approximately US$550 million and will be put into use in 2016. However, the construction was delayed for about five years, and the final cost totaled US$868 million, 77% of which was Chinese loans to Vietnam.
Land acquisition issues and safety inspections
The most common issues that cause delays are the city’s land acquisition issues and the required security checks. The commentator also emphasized that Vietnam lacks experience in building complex urban projects, which further delayed the opening up.
Nevertheless, the inauguration ceremony can still be regarded as a success, and the Hanoi Metro aims to solve the growing traffic congestion and air pollution problems in the capital. The Ministry of Transport stated that the railway aims to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce the use of private cars and subsequent environmental pollution, and help “change intra-city traffic.”
Strategies to cope with the surge in the number of scooters and cars
Vietnam’s rapid economic growth in recent years has led to an increase in the number of small motorcycles from 2 million in 2008 to 5.7 million in 2020, and the number of cars in the same period has increased from 185,000 to 700,000.
During the first 15 days of operation, subway passengers in Hanoi will be allowed to travel for free, and the pass will cost US$1.30 for the following day. The train will run from 5 am to 11 pm, every 6 minutes during peak hours. The current speed limit of the system is 35 kilometers per hour.
