Hanoi metro train stops mid-route due to power outage, passengers refunded

Around 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, an elevated train traveling from Ha Dong to Cat Linh suddenly stopped at Lang Station. Ten minutes later, the announcement system informed passengers that the train was about to lose power and requested them to disembark and wait.

Dozens of passengers, who had been waiting in the boarding area for another 10 minutes, were later told by staff that the train had come to a complete stop.

They were advised to proceed to the ticket counter for a refund, according to one of the affected passengers, Phuong Anh.

"Because it was right around school time [the afternoon session], many students had to borrow passengers’ phones to call their parents to pick them up and take them to school. Some students were worried because their parents work far away and might not be able to pick them up in time," Anh recalled.

She added that she herself had to take a taxi for the remaining distance to her workplace, costing VND160,000 (US$6.70).

Groups of students gather at Lang Station as a Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro train stops operation, Feb. 25, 2025. Photo by Phuong Anh

A representative of Hanoi Metro Co., Ltd., the operator of the metro line, explained that the disruption was caused by a "crossover recording error during the train reversal at Cat Linh station," which forced the operator to temporarily cut the power to ensure safety.

"After 10 minutes of resolution, the entire route resumed operations. This is a normal occurrence in train operations. We sincerely hope that passengers will understand the inconvenience caused," the representative said.

The Cat Linh – Ha Dong metro line is Vietnam's first metro line, which began commercial service in November 2021. The 13-kilometer line runs above ground through 12 stations. Each train consists of four cars and can carry up to 960 passengers. The trains operate at a maximum speed of 80 km/h, with an operational speed of 35 km/h. The full journey takes 23 minutes.

A single ride on the line costs from VND8,000 to VND15,000 depending on the length of the journey. In 2023, the line completed over 81,000 trips and transported 10.7 million passengers, marking a 31% increase compared to 2022.