The Cat Linh–Ha Dong metro line is being put through a trial period in August, according to Vu Hong Phuong, deputy director of the Ministry of Transport’s Railway Project Management Board, with some members of the public allowed on the train during tests.
Roughly 13.1 kilometer long and consisting of 12 stations, the line starts at Cat Linh Station in Dong Da District and ends at Yen Nghia Station in Ha Dong District. Phuong also stated that 80% of the equipment has already been installed, making the project 96% complete, reports Dan Tri.
"We've checked the signals and [are] setting up the timetable for the service. We are testing other equipment," Phuong said.
According to Deputy Head of the Hanoi Department of Transport Ngo Manh Tuan, draft regulations about the trial operations were submitted to the Hanoi People’s Committee on July 31. They are expected to be approved by the committee in August.
If all goes well, the metro line will officially open to the public in six months, VnExpress reports.
Ten trains will be used for daily transportation, each consisting of four carriages and capable of carrying up to 1,000 passengers. The cars are also equipped with two-way radios, enabling passengers to communicate with supervisors in times of emergency.
Authorities have also announced that tickets for the metro will be subsidized, after public opinion polls revealed people thought prices should not be too much higher than those for buses.
Check out a video of Hanoians enjoying a test ride on the metro below:
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[Photo/video via Vietnam Skylines]
