A train car of HCMC’s Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line is packed with passengers on its first day of service on Dec. 22, 2024. Photo by Read
The Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien, the first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City, witnessed a turnout of approximately 150,000 passengers on its first day of operation on Sunday.
Le Minh Triet, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No.1 Company (HURC1), the entity managing the metro’s operations, said as it was Sunday, city residents flocked to gain first-hand experience on the line, which took 17 years to complete.
Triet said on the next day, the line ran 124 trips from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m., transporting around 14,000 passengers. Many were travelling for work and study purposes.
The municipal Department of Transport anticipates the line will operate 200 trips daily, serving about 40,000 passengers. Ridership is expected to surge on weekends and during upcoming holidays. To accommodate the increased demand, HURC1 has proposed increasing train frequency and collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure security and smooth operations.
To encourage ridership, the city is offering free rides for the first 30 days of operation, a programme estimated to cost approximately VND15.7 billion (US$617,000). An additional VND17.3 billion will be allocated to support free rides on 17 bus routes connecting to the metro during this period.
The metro, spanning nearly 20 kilometers, features 2.6 kilometers of underground tracks, three underground stations, and 11 elevated stops. With a total investment of over VND43.7 trillion, the line is equipped with 17 trains, each capable of carrying up to 930 passengers, including 147 seated and 783 standing.
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