Thursday, December 26, 2024 Ho Chi Minh City celebrated the successful launch of its first metro line, a historic milestone for Vietnam’s urban transportation system. In its first three days of operation, the metro line recorded an impressive 279,000 passengers, significantly exceeding the expected 105,000 passengers for the same period. This achievement underscores the city’s progress toward modernizing its transit infrastructure while addressing the mobility needs of its growing population.
The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railways No. 1 Company Limited (HURC1), the line’s operator, reported that the metro line experienced overwhelming public enthusiasm from its inaugural day. On the opening day, Sunday, approximately 150,000 passengers used the metro service, marking an unprecedented start.
On Monday, despite being a weekday, the service still managed to draw over 38,000 passengers. Tuesday witnessed another significant spike, with nine metro trains completing 220 trips and carrying over 90,000 passengers. This figure exceeded the planned 200 trips and the estimated daily capacity of 39,000 passengers.
The data demonstrates strong public interest and high demand for the metro, validating the city’s efforts in prioritizing urban mobility. Recognizing the metro’s overwhelming popularity, HURC1 sought and received approval from the municipal Department of Transport to extend the operating hours. Initially scheduled to run until 10:00 p.
m., the service now operates until 1.
