HCM City Metro Line 1 serves nearly 19 mln passengers in first year
VOV.VN - After one year of commercial operation, Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Metro Line 1 has served nearly 19 million passengers, reaching 114% of its planned target, according to Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company Limited (HURC).
From December 22, 2024 to December 15, 2025, Metro Line 1 operated more than 78,000 train services, carrying nearly 19 million passengers. On average, the line served over 1.5 million passengers per month, about 52,000 passengers per day, with peak daily ridership reaching 110,000 during holidays and major festivals.
“These figures clearly demonstrate strong demand for metro services. Many residents now consider the metro a regular means of transport rather than a novelty experience,” said Le Minh Triet, director of HURC.
In 2026, he revealed, HURC plans to further enhance service quality by investing in additional surveillance cameras, installing more elevators and escalators at platforms, and strengthening advanced technical training for engineers and maintenance staff.
The operator also plans to expand ticket sales systems at stations, upgrade fare gate opening speeds, and pilot the use of biometric technology for metro users.
A key highlight is the planned rollout of integrated ticketing between metro and bus services in 2026, which is expected to significantly improve convenience and encourage greater public transport use.
Metro Line 1 stretches 19.7 km, including 2.6 km underground through the city centre and 17.1 km of elevated track. It comprises 14 stations - three underground and 11 elevated - along with the Long Binh depot, covering 20.56 hectares, which serves as the main facility for train stabling, maintenance and repairs.
The project’s total investment exceeds VND43 trillion (approx. US$1.7 billion), funded mainly through ODA loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The line currently operates 17 trainsets, of which 14 are in regular service and three are reserved. Each trainset consists of three cars, with a maximum capacity of 930 passengers.
HCM City's Metro Line 1 transports 279,000 passengers in first three days
In its first three days of operation starting on December 22, Ho Chi Minh City’s long-awaited first metro line served nearly 279,000 passengers, far surpassing the expected figure of 105,000.
