Test run of Saigon's first metro line slated for Q3

The second train of the line, comprising three cars, was transported from Khanh Hoi Port in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 4 to Long Binh Depot in Thu Duc City on Tuesday, a day after it had arrived from Japan.

The train has been installed on the T1 track where the first train had been placed last October.

Together, they will conduct pilot runs, first on small sections of the line and then on the entire stretch, which connects Ben Thanh Market in District 1 with Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City.

The trains will first operate within the depot's precinct at the speed of 20 kph, and then on the elevated section at the designed speed of 110 kph and finally, run along the entire route in the third quarter, said Hoang Mai Tung, an engineer employed by the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways, the project's investor.

The two trains will have their zero-load trial operations at the depot before running with simulated passengers along the elevated section and the entire route.

The Japanese contractor, conglomerate Hitachi, will be in charge of the test run.

HCMC's first metro line will have 17 Japanese-made trains in total. The third train with three cars was also delivered to Khanh Hoi Port along with the second train and is expected to be transported to Long Binh Depot on Thursday.

Hitachi plans to deliver two more trains in June and July.

Each of the three-car trains has a capacity of 930 passengers and can travel at up to 110 kph above ground and 80 kph underground.

Work on the much-delayed line, which began in 2012, is 85 percent complete.

The city had hoped to begin commercial operations by the end of this year, but the Covid-19 outbreak has delayed it until next year.

It plans to build eight metro lines in all running a total of 220 kilometers.