The Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways has signed a 7,833 billion dong contract with Japan-based electronics company Hitachi Limited to supply electrical and mechanical (E&M) equipment for Ho Chi Minh City’s Metro Line 1. Hitachi will supply 17 three-car train sets, signalling and telecommunications systems including the wireless train radio, the power supply system, platform screen doors, an automated fare collection system, and depot facilities. Further, a separate agreement will specify the terms for maintenance to be undertaken by Hitachi for five years after the start of commercial operations in 2018. Line 1 covering 14 stations will span 19.7 km from Ben Thành Market to Suoi Tien. Construction commenced in August 2012. The line is expected to cost 47 trillion dong. JICA will fund 88 per cent of the construction costs. A total of six metro lines are planned for Ho Chi Minh City. Line 2 is already under construction and the basic designs have been approved for Lines 3A and 3B.
