Ho Chi Minh City - On the afternoon of April 15, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the central delegation surveyed and attended the test run of the metro train from Rach Chiec station to Suoi Tien bus station of Metro project No. Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh tested Metro train No. 1 on the afternoon of April 15. Photo: MAUR

The train route is about 11 km long, starting from Rach Chiec station, passing through Phuoc Long, Binh Thai, Thu Duc, and Hi-Tech Park stations. After that, the train continues through National University station to Suoi Tien bus station - the last station of Metro line 1.

The test run of the train is part of test phase 5 (static integration) and test phase 6 (dynamic integration) of Metro No. 1's 8-stage test process, which has been in place for many months. now.

According to design, the elevated section has a maximum speed of 110 km/h, but during the test run, to ensure safety, the train only runs at a speed of less than 50 km.

Metro No. 1 completes almost 95% of the volume. Photo: MAUR

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), Metro No. 1 has now reached about 95% of the volume.

MAUR is coordinating with contractors and consultants to speed up the project to complete 100% of the construction work including installing the remaining equipment, completing the architecture of stations and pedestrian bridges on the whole route, soon put the project into use.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested to complete Metro No. 1 one quarter ahead of schedule. Photo: MAUR

Recently, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has decided to adjust the completion time of Metro No. 1 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023.

However, at the test ride of Metro No. 1 this afternoon, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assigned agencies and units to try to complete Metro project No. 1 on the occasion of September 2, 2023 - 1 quarter ahead of schedule.

Metro No. 1 is a symbolic work to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan relations, so the soon completed project is meaningful in the friendly diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Thủ tướng cũng yêu cầu tiếp tục hoàn thiện quy hoạch mới hệ thống metro của TP Hồ Chí Minh phù hợp định hướng phát triển mới.

At the same time, soon promote Metro project No. 3a (Ben Thanh - Tan Kien) in the spirit of Japan's new generation of ODA loans, drawing lessons from Metro No. 1 project for faster implementation.

Also at the scene, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh discussed with Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio. The Prime Minister thanked Ambassador Takio for contributing to promoting Japan's upcoming implementation of the new generation of ODA loans to Vietnam.

The Prime Minister suggested that the Japanese side continue to support Vietnam in building strategic transport infrastructure, including high-speed railway; contribute to bringing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan deeper, more substantive and effective.