Saigonese get first experience of metro line

Metro Line No.1 goes on a test run on elevated tracks in Thu Duc City.

The train departed at 10 a.m. from Suoi Tien Station and then passed through three other stations before making its final stop at Binh Thai Station.

The elevated tracks are designed for a top speed of 110kph, but during the test run the train kept to under 40kph.

HCMC's first metro line has 17 Japanese-made trains. Each train has three cars that have the capacity to hold 930 passengers, with 147 sitting and the rest standing.

The more than 100 passengers participating in the trial run included HCMC officials, construction workers and local citizens.

HCMC officials and staff from Japanese contractor Hitachi riding the train.

Dinh Thuy Chi, 25, takes a selfie to mark her first ride on the metro in HCMC.

"I'm really glad to be one of the first passengers to ride the new HCMC metro," said Ly Thanh Phong, a firefighter.

"I live 2km from the nearest station and once the metro operates officially, I will take it to go to work every day."

Every time the train reaches a station an announcement will be made on the speaker and a signal light will flash at the door.

HCMC’s first metro line runs 19.7km between Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City. The line has 14 stations, three underground and the rest elevated. All the underground lines are in District 1.

"I used the metro in Russia and Singapore and had been waiting for a very long time to experience the metro of HCMC," said Le Van Ninh, 86, a Thu Duc citizen.

"The train runs smoothly and I do not have any motion sickness," he said.

British native Tim Shannon (L) drives the metro train with a technician standing next to him.

Currently there are four drivers working on the line.

A man takes photos of the elevated tracks from a moving train.

The train arrived at Binh Thai Station after half an hour.

After 10 years of construction and many delays, HCMC’s first metro line is now around 93% complete.

Set to cost over VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion), paid for by an Japanese development assistance loan and a counterpart Vietnamese funding, the line is expected to begin service in the fourth quarter next year.