At 5am on December 12, a train left from Cat Linh Station at one end of the line and another left Yen Nghia Station at the other end.

Over the next 20 days, the trains will be operated according to a standard schedule for independent consultants to evaluate its safety.

Trains will run from 5am to 11pm on the 13-kilometre line of elevated tracks. At each station, the train will stop for 30 seconds for passengers to get on and get off as it would in actual commercial service.

The intervals between trains will be 6-7 minutes, and can be shortened to 2-3 minutes during rush hours.

The operation centre of Line 2A is located at the Ha Dong Depot.

During the test-run period, staff of Hanoi Metro, which is responsible for operating the line, will be present at the control room, ticket booths and on the platforms. Electronic signboards and speakers will also be operated as guidance for passengers.

According to Hanoi Metro General Director Vu Hong Truong, all the Vietnamese workers of the line have taken part in various drills since November 4 under the supervision of Chinese experts. Train drivers are now able to control the trains independently without the company of experts.

A train leaves Ring Road 3 Station for Phung Khoang Station.

Each train is comprised of four cars, with a total capacity of more than 900 people. The average speed during commercial service is 35 kilometres per hour.

The full-scale test run is a significant milestone for the project, whose completion has been delayed for years.

Duy Linh/Anh Tuan (Nhan Dan)

Chinese experts direct operation of Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway

Deputy General Director of China’s Railway Bureau 6 has come to Vietnam to direct the trial operation of Hanoi’s Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway system this December.