As Hanoi metro begins ticket sales, passenger numbers plunge

The number of people who want to try the Cat Linh – Ha Dong Metro Line dropped and instead that of regular commuters rise, said director of Hanoi Metro Vu Hong Truong.

He added that more parking spaces at and more buses on the last mile to stations are planned soon, he said.

Transportation expert Phan Le Binh said the low number of users was likely due to people working from home and the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the daily average of 16,000 is high compared to buses, he pointed out. "No bus route can reach this figure, showing the high capacity of the metro. It is an efficient means of public transport."

Nghiem Quoc Thang, deputy chairman of the Hanoi Transport Association, said it would take some more time to assess the efficacy of the metro.

"It takes time for people to change their habits with respect to this type of transportation. It took Hanoi 10 years to reach the current bus usage".

The metro is a superior means of transport and would surely be used by the public, and the city should quickly complete other routes such as Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station and link with this line, he said.

The Cat Linh – Ha Dong Metro Line began operating on Nov. 6 and was free until Nov. 20.

It costs VND8,000–15,000 ($0.35–0.66) for a ticket and VND200,000 for a monthly pass.

The line runs 13 kilometers from downtown Cat Linh to the southwestern district of Ha Dong, with a trip taking around 23 minutes.