Saigon metro entire line tested for first time

The train leaves Ba Son, the last underground station, during its test run, Aug. 29, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

At 9:15 a.m. the train left the terminus below Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and went all the way to the last station opposite Suoi Tien theme park in Thu Duc City, before returning to the Ben Thanh station. It stopped briefly at the Opera House, Ba Son and Tan Cang stations.

At 9:50 a.m. it started for Tan Cang station, the first above the surface, on Dien Bien Phu Street.

The train runs above Dien Bien Phu Street in HCMC's Binh Thanh District, Aug. 29, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Minh

The Management Authority for Urban Railways of HCMC, which is building the metro, has said there would be three runs on Tuesday, one on the entire 19.7-km line, and the others from Ben Thanh to An Phu in Thu Duc City, a 10-km trip.

The train crosses Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh District, with the country's tallest building, Landmark 81, looming in the background. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

The trains are designed to run at a maximum speed of 110 kph on the elevated section and 80 kph underground.

The test runs on Tuesday will each carry 30 people on board.

There were three earlier trial runs but only on the surface section.

A map of the metro line No.1, which will run 19.7 km between Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Long Binh Depot in Thu Duc City. Graphics by VnExpress/Hoang Khanh

The trains were all manufactured in Japan.

The metro cost over VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion). After numerous delays it is more than 95% complete, and is expected to finish this year and begin commercial operation next year.