Hanoi’s first metro service running from Cat Linh to Ha Dong will start commercial operation from May 1 as directed by the Prime Minister.

The completion of Metro Line No 1 project in Ho Chi Minh City linking Ben Thanh Market in District 1 with Suoi Tien Tourist Park in District 9 is likely to be delayed to after 2021, the municipal Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) has stated.

Construction of a 4-km underground section of the Hanoi urban railway line No.3 (Nhon-Hanoi Station) will commence after May 1, with four underground stations from Station 9 in Kim Ma to Station 12 in Hanoi Station.

The Management Authority for Urban Railways of Ho Chi Minh City (MAUR) and contractors kicked off work on power supply for the southern economic hub’s first metro line project on February 19, which has now seen 82% of works completed.

Thirty trains and other related components of Hanoi’s Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway have been completely assessed and obtained a certification for technical safety and environmental protection.

The Vietnam Register Authority under the Ministry of Transport announced it has completed the assessment and issued technical safety and environmental protection certification for 13 trains and other related components of the Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway, Hanoi’s long-delayed first metro project.

The trial run of Hanoi’s Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway project will take place from December 12 to 31 to assess its safety, Vu Hong Phuong, director of the Transport Ministry’s railway project management board, told reporters.

The safety test run for the whole system of Hanoi’s first line of urban railway project, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong line, will be completed within 20 days by late December 2020, Kinh te & Do thi reported.

It is expected that the urban railway project of Cat Linh-Ha Dong will begin operating on a trial basis in December.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 28 stressed the need for the railway system to be upgraded in order to serve national development.