On August 8th at 8 am, the Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station commenced its first commercial journey after a 14-year wait. Since early morning, hundreds of people had already gathered at Nhon Station, eagerly awaiting their turn to purchase tickets.
Most of the passengers were local residents eager to experience the new mode of transportation, along with workers commuting to Cau Giay Station.
Ms. Tran Thi Thu Huong, a 36-year-old resident of Hoai Duc, arrived before 7 am to catch the train to Cau Giay. Unaware that the train would depart at 8 am, she was slightly disappointed, but having come so far, she decided to ask her boss for a late start to work so she could still experience the ride.
Ms. Huong shared that when the construction of the Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station began, she was still a university student. After 14 years and numerous delays, she was excited to finally experience the train. Her family, including her children, all commute to Cau Giay for work and school. If the train service proves to be reliable, she plans to switch from using motorcycles and buses to taking the train with her entire family.
Mr. Vu Khac Uyen, a 67-year-old resident of Nam Tu Liem, held his phone with a slight tremble as he captured the moment the train began to move. He expressed his happiness at witnessing the development of his country, saying, “Returning from the battlefield, I am overjoyed to see how our country has progressed over the years. This experience is fascinating and enjoyable. I walked more than a kilometer to get to the train station, and I noticed that most of the passengers were elderly like me, and everyone was excited.”
Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, a 74-year-old passenger, heard about the free ride on the Nhon – Hanoi metro line while on a bus from Son Tay Citadel to Cau Giay to visit his relatives. Intrigued, he asked for directions and headed to the Nhon bus station to give it a try. “I knew about this decades ago, but this is my first time riding the train,” he said.
Starting their journey from Cau Giay Station, a group of five friends, including 71-year-old Mrs. Bui Thuy Son, shared their excitement: “We’ve been looking forward to this since last night and couldn’t sleep. We arrived at the station very early. I find that the train runs fast and smoothly, and it’s enjoyable to admire the tall buildings and modern roads. The train also passes by many universities, which will be very convenient for students.”
11-year-old Nguyen Quang Anh, from Ho Chi Minh City, experienced the elevated train in the capital city for the first time with his grandfather. “I’m very emotional about riding this train. My family and I have taken similar trains in Europe, but this is my first time on the Nhon – Hanoi metro line. I find the train beautiful and modern. I hope that when I return to Ho Chi Minh City, the construction of the Metro Line 1 from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien will be completed soon,” he shared.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Kien, a 72-year-old resident of Tay Tuu, whose house is just 100 meters away from the S1 Nhon Station, has witnessed the entire process of the metro line’s construction, from the initial excavation to the installation of pillars, beams, and roof casting, which took over a decade. He often passed by the site while taking his grandchildren to school and hoped for the line’s early completion. “I am delighted that the train is now operational. Route 32 is usually congested, and I believe the elevated train will help alleviate some of the traffic congestion, making it easier for workers and students to commute,” he said.
The Nhon – Hanoi urban railway line spans 12.5 km and has a total investment of nearly VND 35,000 billion from ODA sources. The elevated section (Nhon – Cau Giay) is 8.5 km long, while the underground section (Cau Giay – Hanoi Station) is 4 km long. The project began in 2010 and was initially planned for completion in 2015, but after multiple delays, the new completion date for the entire line is set for 2027. The elevated section commenced commercial operations in August 2024. Photo: Ngoc Dep
Route: Starting from Nhon, the line follows National Highway 32, passing through Cau Dien, Mai Dich, and the intersection with Ring Road 3, before reaching Cau Giay (intersection with Ring Road 2), Kim Ma, Cat Linh, Quoc Tu Giam, and finally Hanoi Station (Tran Hung Dao Street).
According to the Hanoi People’s Council resolution, the Nhon – Hanoi train will offer free rides for the first 15 days. After the two-week free period, Hanoi Metro will officially start selling tickets. The monthly common ticket is priced at VND 200,000, with a 50% discount for students, factory workers, and group purchases of 30 or more people (VND 140,000). The daily ticket costs VND 24,000, valid for the entire line, while tickets for individual stations range from VND 8,000 to VND 12,000.
Similar to the Cat Linh – Ha Dong railway line, passengers can purchase tickets directly from staff or from ticket vending machines at the stations. Each ticket is valid for a single entry when the gate opens. The train operates from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm, with a frequency of one train every 10 minutes at all elevated stations.
Once fully operational, the metro line is expected to contribute significantly to reducing traffic congestion in the capital, especially along busy routes such as National Highway 32, Xuan Thuy, and Cau Giay. Photo: Ngoc Dep.
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.
Hiring nearly 500 railway operation staff for Nhon-Hanoi Station in July
Hanoi Metro Company has announced that it is currently undertaking various tasks to put the Nhon – Hanoi Urban Railway (elevated section) into operation by July, 2024. In preparation for this plan, Hanoi Metro is recruiting a total of 447 personnel.
Trial operation of Hanoi-Nhổn railway for 7 weeks before official launch
The Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board (MRB) has recently reported to the Hanoi People’s Committee about the plan to test run the trains on the Nhon – Hanoi Station route before its official launch in July. The trains will undergo a 7-week trial period, which will conclude at the end of June.
