Metro reroutes commutes to school and work.

December 22, 2024 will not only mark a significant milestone in Ho Chi Minh City's transportation infrastructure, but will also be a long-awaited new day, a day that will change the lives of countless people and families.

This morning (December 22), the stations of metro line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien began welcoming passengers - Photo: C. TUAN

The 20km route from Thu Duc to the city center will be very close to the metro and bus routes connecting to the stations. The new Eastern Bus Station will also no longer be far away. Currently, it takes at least an hour to travel from the new Eastern Bus Station (Ho Chi Minh City bordering Binh Duong ) to the city center. With Metro Line 1, the journey from Ben Thanh to this station will only take about 30 minutes. People from all districts can take buses and the metro to reach the Eastern Bus Station quickly and economically. Ms. Vu Minh Huyen - Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board - said that at the elevated stations (except for Suoi Tien Bus Station) there are parking lots for private vehicles. Passengers have many ways to easily get to the metro stations, especially the 17 electric bus routes that directly connect these stations. At the three underground stations of the line there are public bicycle and bus stops. Nine pedestrian bridges connect to the stations, providing easy access for people to cross Vo Nguyen Giap Street and Hanoi Highway to board the train. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Da Thao, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center, the 17 new electric bus routes not only provide convenient connections to the metro but also offer more routes for people to choose from to other nearby areas. The city's bus system has increased to 137 routes with 2,202 buses. The metro-connecting bus routes run from 5 am to 10 pm, coinciding with the operating hours of Metro Line 1. A bus passes through the station approximately every 8-12 minutes. Information on the 17 bus routes and Metro Line 1 has been updated on the Go!bus application. "Electric buses will integrate with other public transport operating methods. The application will soon be upgraded with new features, allowing people to quickly pay for public transport in Ho Chi Minh City," Ms. Thao said.

Workers install motorbike parking equipment at An Phu metro station (Thu Duc City) - Photo: TU TRUNG

Bus routes 55, 56, 93... connect to the metro at Suoi Tien station and facilitate commuting for National University students - Photo: TTD

The Metro is open to passengers today. My family is truly excited today thinking about our children's future, about the city's transportation system where they go to school today and to work in the future – how commuting will be fast, modern, and civilized.

* Ms. Nguyen Nhat Diem (Di An, Binh Duong) :

The 20km commute to work doesn't feel far anymore.

My house is near the Thu Duc University Village (Di An City, Binh Duong Province). For a long time, I've been driving my motorbike more than 20km every day, taking about an hour to navigate frequently congested routes like Hanoi Highway and Vo Nguyen Giap Street. From now on, I'll put aside the daily fatigue and struggles. I'll take the metro from the National University station to Ben Thanh station in less than 30 minutes. I won't have to worry about traffic jams, dust, heat, or rain like before. I'll have some time to admire the scenery along the railway line, promising a more relaxed and pleasant journey home each day. The metro's operation will help reduce the number of motorbikes on the route, reducing emissions and air pollution. I hope to see traffic in the city become more modern and civilized. Students and working people will save time, feel healthier, and be safer with the metro every day. * Ms. Pham Thi Hoang (Thu Duc City)

Tomorrow my child will be a "metro citizen".

My 13-year-old son is eagerly awaiting the day he can take the 163 electric bus (with a station just 500 steps from our house) to Binh Thai station to catch the metro to District 1 for his foreign language classes. The bus and train will take him to and from school safely, saving him from the rain, sun, and dust he's endured for the past 7-8 years riding a motorbike. And more importantly, my son will learn to travel independently, learn proper behavior on the metro, and become a more civilized young passenger than even his parents – that's for sure! The metro will be a convenient and safe mode of transportation for teenagers. The easier and faster commute to school will give many families more peace of mind, eliminating the need to transport their children by motorbike. Metro Line 1 truly offers opportunities and convenience for many people like us.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/metro-dinh-tuyen-lai-duong-di-hoc-di-lam-20241221224623655.htm#content-1