The number of visitors was five times higher than expected.

(NLĐO) - The metro line welcomed over 150,000 passengers, five times higher than the initial plan which projected only 27,000 passengers with 200 trains.

On the afternoon of December 23, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Project Management Board and the Metro Line 1 Operating Company held a press conference following the first official day of operation of Metro Line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien.

Many people experience Metro Line 1 - Photo: HOANG TRIEU

Mr. Le Minh Triet, Director of Metro Line 1 Operating Company, said that on the second day of operation, the line made 124 train trips, serving approximately 14,000 passengers from 5 am to 4 pm. Previously, on the first day of official operation, the line recorded 177 train trips, attracting a large number of passengers thanks to it falling on a weekend.

"We are delighted with the warm reception from the people. This is a positive sign for public transport in Ho Chi Minh City," Mr. Triet shared.

The large number of passengers on the first day forced the trains to operate at full capacity, and the staff worked continuously but remained enthusiastic. The company established a task force to coordinate with relevant units and local authorities to promptly handle any situations that arose during operation.

Besides the positive feedback, some shortcomings were also noted, such as passengers bringing food and drinks onto the train, which creates unsanitary conditions. Mr. Triet recommended that people use bottled water instead of plastic cups to help protect the environment.

Regarding train delays, Mr. Triet acknowledged that there were delays of a few minutes on the first day due to the arrival of special trains and the large concentration of passengers at the stations. However, the operating unit flexibly adjusted the frequency to 8-12 minutes per trip and increased the number of trips when necessary to meet demand.

Regarding amenities at the stations, Mr. Phan Cong Bang, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Project Management Board, said that they are proposing to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to install vending machines for beverages in front of some stations and expect to complete this before the Lunar New Year.

The Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro Line 1, spanning 19.7 km, connects the central District 1 with eastern areas such as Binh Thanh and Thu Duc City. This is the first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City, expected to alleviate traffic congestion on major thoroughfares like Hanoi Highway and bring numerous economic , social, and environmental benefits.

Initially, the metro operated from 5 AM to 10 PM daily, with a total of 200 trains per day. Each train had a maximum capacity of 930 passengers, reaching speeds of 110 km/h on elevated sections and 80 km/h on underground sections.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/metro-so-1-van-hanh-ngay-dau-luong-khach-gap-5-lan-du-kien-196241223202101228.htm