HCMC metro train to have test run on elevated track before Christmas

The pilot run for metro line No. 1 will be carried out on a section of more than 8km in Thu Duc City, the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) said Monday.

The trial run by Japanese contractor Hitachi will mark the first time that a train will go on a test run on the line, which runs 19.7km between Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City.

The elevated section is designed for trains running at a speed of 110kph but for the test run the train will start at a speed of 5kph and gradually reach 20kph.

During the test, the train will also stop to pick up and drop of passengers, either at the Suoi Tien or Binh Thai stations.

HCMC’s first metro line has 17 Japanese-made trains in total. Each has a capacity to hold 930 passengers and each train can travel at up to 110 kph above ground and 80 kph underground.

Since August this year, all 17 of the trains have been tested one after another at Long Binh depot in Thu Duc City.

After 10 years of construction, the first metro line in HCMC, with three underground stations and 11 elevated, is now around 93% complete.

Set to cost over VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion) of Japan’s official development assistance loan and Vietnam’s counterpart fund, the line is expected to enter service in the fourth quarter next year.

 

 

HCMC metro train to have test run on elevated track before Christmas

HCMC metro trains go on test run