The Nhon – Hanoi Railway Line is expected to operate from August 8, offering free rides for the first 15 days for passengers to experience.
The Nhon – Hanoi Urban Railway Line stretches 8.5 kilometers (from Nhon Depot to S8 station – Cau Giay) and has completed construction, installation, and trial operation. The acceptance tests have also been finished, confirming its readiness for commercial operation.
The entire Nhon – Hanoi metro line is 12.5 km long with a total investment of 34,826 billion VND from ODA funding. Of this, the elevated section (Nhon – Cau Giay) is 8.5 km long, and the underground section (Cau Giay – Hanoi station) is 4 km long. The project began construction in 2009, with a completion plan in 2015, but after several delays, the new completion timeline is set for 2027, with the elevated section expected to commence commercial operations in early August 2024.
According to the technical design of the Nhon – Hanoi Metro elevated section, each train consists of 4 cars, with each car capable of carrying 236 passengers, totaling 944 passengers per trip. HMC plans to operate 4-6 trains, with a peak hour interval of 6 minutes per trip (an average of 10 trips per hour in each direction during peak hours). Thus, the maximum transport capacity of the line can reach 9,440 passengers per hour per direction.
At the stations, passengers can purchase tickets directly from staff or through automatic vending machines. The standard monthly ticket price is 200,000 VND, with a 50% discount for students, workers in industrial zones; group tickets for 30 people or more cost 140,000 VND. Day tickets are priced at 24,000 VND, allowing travel across the entire line within the day. Ticket prices for stations along the route range from 8,000 to 12,000 VND.
Tickets for the Nhon – Hanoi railway line are round like coins and black in color. When passing through the ticket gate, passengers need to scan the ticket to open the gate, and upon reaching their destination station, they insert it into the ticket validation machine to exit. Tickets are valid for only 20 minutes after purchase; if passengers do not board, they must visit the ticket counter for an update.
The station areas of the Nhon – Hanoi metro line are designed to be spacious, airy, and equipped with many windows for natural light.
The station includes a designated walkway for the visually impaired and elevators for people with disabilities.
The train waiting areas at the stations are equipped with complete information boards regarding train schedules.
The Nhon – Hanoi Metro Line utilizes 10 trains custom-designed by Alstom (France). The trains feature a “Green Journey” theme with three colors: light green, red, and white.
The line starts at Nhon station, running along National Route 32, passing through Cau Dien, following Ho Tung Mau Road, crossing Ring Road 3, Xuân Thủy, Cau Giay, and ending before Thu Le Park. It includes 8 elevated stations (Nhon, Minh Khai, Phu Dien, Cau Dien, Le Duc Tho, National University of Hanoi, Chua Ha, Cau Giay).
The trains are fully equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, ventilation systems, internal and front-facing speakers, LCD screens on the side of the cars, and near the exit doors. The lighting system uses LED lights, automatically adjusting brightness for both elevated and underground sections.
The modern and comfortable driver’s cabin of the Nhon – Hanoi metro train.
The operational speed of the trains can reach up to 60 km/h. Meanwhile, the Cat Linh – Ha Dong train is designed for an operational speed of 35 km/h.
It is known that the Nhon – Hanoi railway line operates continuously with 10 trains on a standard gauge of 1,435mm, utilizing continuous welding technology to ensure high-speed operation, noise reduction, vibration control, and the installation of anti-derailment devices. Each train consists of 4 cars produced by Alstom (France), using distributed power with engines placed under the train, running on electricity supplied at 750V DC from the third rail to ensure safety, stability, and urban aesthetics, meeting international safety standards.
Mr. Nguyen Ba Son – Deputy Head of the Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board (MRB) stated that the entire elevated section from Nhon station to Cau Giay station, spanning 8.5 km, has completed construction, installation, and trial operation. The acceptance tests have been completed. However, we are still awaiting an official document regarding the commercial operation date from the Hanoi People’s Committee. We hope to operate around early August.
On the morning of August 7, cleaning operations were performed by the staff of the Nhon – Hanoi metro line at all stations, ready to welcome passengers on August 9.
Once operational, this metro line is expected to help reduce traffic congestion in the capital as it travels through crowded areas such as National Route 32, Xuân Thủy, and Cau Giay.
