Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line starts commercial operation on trial basis
VOV.VN - The Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien line) in Ho Chi Minh City officially started commercial operation from November 11 for a week on a trial basis, said Le Minh Triet, director of Urban Railway Company No. 1 - the operator of the metro line.
The train starts commercial operation along the nearly 20km-long route, going from Long Binh Depot in Thu Duc City to Ben Thanh Market Station in District 1.
Frequent trains will run from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day, and each trip is about four minutes 30 seconds to 10 minutes apart.
In parallel with the trial operation process, consultants of the joint venture between the Bureau Veritas of France and TEDI of Vietnam will strictly monitor and evaluate the operating capacity of employees.
According to the HCMC Urban Railway Management Board, the independent consulting consortium will complete the safety assessment reports and submit them to the Railway Department for appraisal from November 18 to 30.
Competent authorities are scheduled to approve the project for commercial operation, expected in December this year.
Earlier from October 14 to November 8, Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro ran on a trial test with an operating capacity reaching about 20% compared to the design.
The Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro line is the first urban railway project in Ho Chi Minh City, with a total investment of more than VND43,700 billion, connecting the city centre to the eastern gateway. The entire route has a total of 11 elevated stations and three underground stations. Currently, the entire project has reached a completion rate of 99%.
