The first urban railway in Hanoi is expected to complete the trial run at the end of the first quarter and begin commercial operation in April after several delays, local media reported, citing Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong on February 14.He added that China Railway Sixth Group, which is the Engineering-Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor of the project, said the official launch will be held after in late first quarter of 2019.
Cat Linh - Ha Dong train is operating daily, with the average speed of 35km/h. Photo: Giang Huy
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Currently, 4% of the construction volume is left to be completed, mainly some items such as bridge header and railway stations.
After finishing the test, the railway will be appraised by the Vietnam Register and an independent unit of France. Then, it will be handed over to Hanoi city for management and run. In the first days, Cat Linh - Ha Dong Railway will provide free service for passengers.
Hanoi Railway Company also said that it has submitted to the Hanoi People's Committee two options for Cat Linh - Ha Dong railway’s ticket price, which prioritizes the plan of VND10,000 (US$0.4) per ticket for 5 to 6 km. Ticket prices will vary depending on the distance.
This ticket price is subsidized by the government, with an aim to lure people to public transport. Ticket price is being appraised by Hanoi departments.
Cat Linh - Ha Dong Railway is one of the key public transport projects in Hanoi. Since September 2018, this project has tested all 13 trains, with the average speed of 35 km/hour. The railway is 13.5km length and uses standard-gauge rail track (1.435mm). The designed speed of the track reaches 80km/h and with the frequency of two minutes.
