Easing the Disappointment: A Ride on the New Metro
Eager to be among the first passengers, Mrs. Phung Thi Thu (67, Son Tay) and her five friends arrived at Nhon station as early as 7 am. “We’ve been excitedly waiting for this day to finally arrive,” Mrs. Thu shared. “I took the bus from Son Tay as early as 6 am to get here. This is our first time riding such a train, and we’re both excited and nervous; it’s a very special feeling.”
Crowds of people lined up to experience the metro on its first day of commercial operation.
Meanwhile, residents living near the stations along the route couldn’t hide their joy as they had been anticipating this day for over a decade. Ms. Tram Anh (40, Cau Dien), who usually commutes to Kim Ma, was eager to try out the new line on its inaugural day to consider changing her daily means of transportation.
People enthusiastically checked in and enjoyed their ride on the new metro.
“There were several times when I thought I’d be able to ride the train, but it kept getting postponed, which was quite disappointing,” Ms. Anh shared. “But now that it’s officially running, I’m here to put that feeling behind me. It was worth the long wait to finally ride this spacious, modern train. It runs smoothly, and the staff are polite and efficient. This line will help me and many others commute more conveniently, saving time and protecting the environment.”
Chu Hai Yen, a fourth-year student at the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda, often travels between her school and her home in Ba Vi. As she usually takes buses 92 and 32, she spends a lot of time stuck in traffic from Nhon to school. When she learned that the new metro line would take less than 10 minutes, she decided to give it a try, traveling from the National University station to Nhon.
“As a frequent user of public transportation, I’m thrilled to have this new option,” Yen shared. “From automatic ticket purchases to touch-and-go cards at entry/exit points, everything feels modern, convenient, and cost-effective for young people like me. The train runs swiftly and smoothly, and I plan to use it often to visit my hometown. I’ve also ridden the Cat Linh – Ha Dong line, and each train offers a unique experience.”
A Unique Experience
Mr. Vu Hong Truong, General Director of Hanoi Metro, shared his thoughts on the first day of the metro’s commercial operation: “Many people were curious to try it out, so we had a large number of passengers on the first day. Some even arrived 1-2 hours before the train started running.”
“According to our data, we had 2,119 passengers in the first hour of operation, and by 10 am, that number had doubled to 4,670. Now, our passengers are spreading the word to their friends and family, and we’re delighted to see even more people coming,” Mr. Truong added.
Indeed, many passengers noticed clear differences between the two metro lines currently operating in Hanoi. Specifically, the Nhon – Hanoi Station line differs from the Cat Linh – Ha Dong line in several ways, aside from their similarities in ticket prices and monthly pass regulations.
Firstly, both lines have four carriages. The Cat Linh – Ha Dong train can accommodate 960 passengers, including seated and standing passengers (with a seat ratio of 144/960, or 15%). In contrast, the Nhon – Hanoi Station train can hold 944 passengers, including both seated and standing (with a seat ratio of 94/944, or 10%).
Secondly, compared to the Cat Linh – Ha Dong train, the Nhon – Hanoi Station train has a higher speed and acceleration capacity. Due to its higher speed, it may feel slightly jerky at the start of the journey.
Additionally, on the Nhon – Hanoi Station line, the driver must exit the cabin and observe the platform at each stop (to ensure safety and prevent drowsiness). However, the Nhon – Hanoi Station train is equipped with an anti-drowsiness button and cameras, so the driver doesn’t need to leave their position when the train arrives at a station.
“Regarding the automatic fare collection system, the Cat Linh – Ha Dong line has ticket booths on one side, while the Nhon – Hanoi Station line has them on both sides. Notably, the Nhon – Hanoi Station line’s tickets have passenger identification, preventing others from using your ticket. This is another distinguishing feature and advantage of this system,” shared the General Director of Hanoi Metro.
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Free bus and train rides proposed for holidays in Hanoi
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Many records of passenger growth have been established.
As a completely new form of public transportation, with a new operating and management team, concerns have been raised that the Cat Linh – Ha Dong urban railway may become a “lonely star” in the midst of the crowded city due to having only one line. However, after more than 2 years of operation, the Cat Linh – Ha Dong railway has set many records in terms of passenger transportation volume.
More than 86,000 passengers took the Cat Linh – Ha Dong train during Tet.
The Hanoi Department of Transport has recently reported to the city about the situation of traffic safety, passenger and cargo transportation to meet the travel needs of the people during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Cat Linh – Ha Dong Railway Accommodates Over 86,000 Passengers during Tet
During the Lunar New Year holiday, the Cát Linh – Hà Đông urban railway operated continuously to serve the transportation needs of over 86,000 passengers safely.
