Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line serves 5.3mn passengers in 2.5 months

   Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City served over 5.3 million passengers in two and a half months of operation, 1.8 times higher than the initial forecast, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited, the operator of the metro line, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

   The line began commercial operations on December 22, 2024.

   As of now, 15,300 train trips have been operated, with an average of 348 passengers per trip.

   To make it easier for people to use the metro, Ho Chi Minh City has launched 17 subsidized electric bus routes, with free rides available for the first 30 days.

   These bus routes operate from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm, coinciding with the operating hours of metro line No. 1.

   These bus routes have transported over 700,000 passengers, contributing to a more synchronized and convenient public transportation system for residents, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Management Center of Public Transport.

   Since their launch, the electric bus routes have expanded their service areas to densely populated areas such as Thao Dien, An Phu, the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, Cao Thang Street, and Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street, making it more convenient for residents to reach metro line No. 1 stations.

   These electric buses are equipped with cameras and POS ticketing machines, ensuring safety and convenience for passengers.

   The buses have distinct colors that make it easier for passengers to identify.

   In the near future, the Ho Chi Minh City Management Center of Public Transport will continue to add more pick-up and drop-off points and adjust some bus routes to optimize the connection with metro line No. 1.

   The city’s first metro line spans 19.7 kilometers, including 2.6 kilometers of underground rail and 17.1 kilometers of elevated track, with a total cost of US$1.7 billion.

   Construction on the metro line project began in 2012, and the system operates with 17 trains, each capable of carrying 930 passengers.

(2025/03/12-11:23)