HCMC’s first three metro train cars brought to depot

By Quynh Tran, Huu Khoa October 10, 2020 | 02:12 am PT

Trailer trucks have carried the first cars for HCMC’s Metro Line No. 1 from a port in District 4 to the depot in District 9.

On the night of Friday, three trailer trucks are in ready position at the port of Khanh Hoi in District 4 to carry three of 51 Japanese-made coaches meant for HCMC’s first metro line.The coaches arrived at the port on the morning of Thursday after being shipped from Japan. From Khanh Hoi Port, they are transported to the Long Binh Depot in District 9.

On Friday night, three trailer trucks are at the port of Khanh Hoi in District 4 to deliver three of 51 Japanese-made cars meant for HCMC’s first metro line. The cars arrived at the port on Thursday morning after being shipped from Japan. From Khanh Hoi Port, they were transported to Long Binh Depot in District 9, around 25 kilometers away.

Before the departing time, Japanese metro experts and around 30 people of the transport firm, HCMC-based logistics service provider Gemadept Corportion, check all the technical details one more time.

Before departure, Japanese metro experts and around 30 employees of the transport firm, HCMC-based logistics service provider Gemadept Corportion, check all technical details once more.

0 a.m. of Saturday, when it was raining quite heavily, the trailer trucks started leaving the port.Each truck comprises of a tractor connected to a hydraulic trailer of 12 axles and 96 wheels and has a towing capacity of 250 tons. Each metro coach measures 21 meters in length, three meters high, four meters wide, and weighs 37 tons.

At midnight Saturday, amid heavy rainfall, the trailer trucks leave port.
Each truck comprised a tractor connected to a hydraulic trailer of 12 axles and 96 wheels, with a towing capacity of 250 tons. Each train car measures 21 m in length, three meters high, four meters wide, and weighs 37 tons.

In order to let the truck through the gate of the port, workers have to use a pole to lift the power and cable line as when put on the truck, the metro coach was propped up by nearly two meters high from the land.

In order to let the truck through the port gate, workers had to use a pole to lift the power cable, with the car nearly two meters above ground once placed on the trailer.

Along the route of 25 km (15.5 meters) from the port to the depot, staff are assigned to help to watch out in case there are any obstacles up high such as a power line or tree branches.

Along the route of 25 km (15.5 meters) from port to depot, staff were assiged to help clear any possible obstacles, including power lines and tree branches.

Local people stand along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4 to watch and record the moment of the metro coaches passing by. I’ve been following every news about the first metro line of the city. It’s already late but I still have to come here to see for myself how these coaches actually look like. I really hope people in HCMC could ride the metro as soon as possible, said Vo Minh Tan, who stands on the left corner in the photo. The 19.7-km metro route No.1 from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien theme park in District 9 will have 17 trains. Construction is expected to cost VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion), and the line will have 14 stations, 11 elevated and three underground.aption]

Locals stand along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4 to watch and record the metro train cars passing by. "I’ve been following all the news about city’s first metro line. It’s already late, but I still had to come here to see for myself how the cars actually look. I really hope people in HCMC could ride the metro as soon as possible," said Vo Minh Tan (L).
The 19.7-km metro route No. 1 from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien theme park in District 9 will operate 17 trains. Construction is expected to cost VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion), with the line to have 14 stations, 11 elevated and three underground.

The trailer trucks cross Khanh Hoi Bridge, leaving District 4. The trucks move at the speed of 5-10 kph and it takes three hours in total to reach the Long Binh Depot.

Trailer trucks cross Khanh Hoi Bridge, leaving District 4. The trucks moved at the speed of 5-10 kph, taking three hours to reach Long Binh Depot.

Workers that are working at the Ba Son underground station of the metro line come to watch the coaches as the trucks reached Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1.

Workers at the Ba Son underground station watch and take photos of the cars on Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1.

At the turn to Thu Thiem Bridge to get into District 2, a staff hops off to navigate the driver.

At the turn to Thu Thiem Bridge to reach District 2, a staff member helps the driver navigate.

The trucks move along Thu Thiem Bridge to Mai Chi Tho Boulevard. They are escorted by four traffic police officer on two motorbikes, one fire truck and eight Japanese experts along the way.

The trucks move along Thu Thiem Bridge to Mai Chi Tho Boulevard. They are escorted by four traffic police officers on two motorbikes, one fire truck, and eight Japanese experts.

The truck fleet move along Mai Chi Tho Boulevard in District 2 at 2 a.m. of Saturday. The entire street is almost deserted at this time.

The fleet move along deserted Mai Chi Tho Boulevard in District 2 at 2 a.m. on Saturday.

They arrive at the depot at 3 a.m. All the three coaches have been installed to a rail of 200 meters. The much-delayed construction began in August 2012, and work is now 76 percent complete. The city hopes to complete 85 percent this year and begin commercial operations by the end of next year. Six engineers had arrived from Japan on September 18 to work on tracks installation and equipment maintenance. Hoang Mai, a Vietnamese engineer of the project that works for the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways said from now until the year end, the first train of the metro line formed by the three coaches will be tested at the Long Binh Depot for assessment later.

They arrived at the depot at 3 a.m.
All three cars have been installed along a track of 200 m.
The much-delayed construction began in August 2012, and work is now 76 percent complete. The city hopes to complete 85 percent this year and begin commercial operations by the end of next year. Six engineers had arrived from Japan on September 18 to work on track installation and equipment maintenance.
Hoang Mai, a Vietnamese engineer of the project that works for the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways said from now until the year end, the first train of the metro line formed by the three cars would be tested at Long Binh Depot for assessment later.