500 personnel are ready to operate and maintain metro line 1.

On October 13th, the Ho Chi Minh City Railway Company No. 1 (HURC) held a meeting with its employees and launched a coordinated trial operation of the Ho Chi Minh City Railway Line No. 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien).

The Metro Line 1 One-Member Limited Liability Company has established two enterprises to operate and maintain Metro Line 1. (Photo: My Quynh)

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the NJPT consortium (general consultant)... and approximately 500 officials, employees, and technicians from the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company No. 1.

Mr. Le Minh Triet, Director of Metro Line 1 Company Limited (Metro Line 1), shared that after a long period of operation, the company has gathered approximately 500 personnel, who have received training and technology transfer from contractors and foreign experts to prepare for the operation of the first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City. These will be the key personnel and foundation for the city's future urban railway system.

Mr. Triet added that in the coming days, Metro Line 1 will prepare to enter its official operational phase. This phase will reveal practical difficulties and challenges, and the company's staff will apply their knowledge and lessons learned to practice, thereby gaining experience and making improvements before entering the official phase.

The Vietnam National Railway Corporation No. 1 officially issued decisions to establish an operation and maintenance enterprise. The operation enterprise will be responsible for managing daily operations, concentrating the team of train drivers, station staff, and support departments.

The goal is to create a safe and convenient service for passengers while ensuring that the trial operation process meets standards.

For the Maintenance Enterprise, this unit will manage and maintain the entire technical system, from locomotives to infrastructure.

The team of technicians will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform routine maintenance and troubleshoot problems, ensuring the system operates continuously and safely.

Mr. Triet stated that the establishment of the two enterprises not only demonstrates a commitment to building a modern public transportation system but also forms the foundation for the city's sustainable development.

Starting on October 14th, approximately 500 personnel from the Metro Line 1 Company Limited will begin operating the metro. (Photo: My Quynh)

Regarding the trial operation before the metro line officially goes into operation, Mr. Triet said that from October 14th, the unit will organize trial runs under the supervision of the NJPT consortium and contractors. Prior to that, from October 1st to the present, the entire line has undergone trial operation under the leadership of the NJPT consultant.

Specifically, from October 14th to November 7th, the metro line will operate at 20% capacity, with a train departing every 10 minutes; from November 7th to November 14th, the line will operate at 100% capacity, with a train departing every 4 minutes and 30 seconds.

During this period, the entire workforce of the company, including the two newly established enterprises—the Operations Enterprise comprising train drivers, dispatchers, and station staff (398 people) and the Maintenance Enterprise comprising engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel (60 people)—will be mobilized for trial operation.

The maintenance facility will be serviced by the contractor Hitachi after the train enters service.

Seventeen metro trains will undergo trial runs to evaluate system integration and safety testing. (Photo: My Quynh)

"Up to this point, from an operational preparation perspective, our company has sufficient capacity to ensure the operation and exploitation of the line."

"On the part of the Project Management Board, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Board will expedite the work on system safety assessment, fire safety acceptance testing, and work with the state acceptance council... to obtain approval and put the metro line into operation according to schedule," Mr. Triet said.

According to Mr. Phan Cong Bang, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, the bidding packages for Metro Line 1 are basically complete. Construction and installation work is 99.9% finished.

The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board is closely monitoring and controlling the progress, ensuring that all stages are completed so that metro line 1 can be put into operation in 2024.

In addition to trial operation, the unit is urgently and intensely focusing on completing the remaining tasks such as fire safety acceptance testing, system safety assessment, vehicle registration, and inspection by the State Acceptance Council.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tphcm-500-nhan-su-san-sang-van-hanh-va-bao-tri-tuyen-metro-so-1-192241013131733.htm