Hanoi Metro Rail on track-
Come 2020, Hanoi will boast of a fully operational and efficient high speed metro rail. Two of the four metro lines covering over 50 km are under construction in Vietnam’s capital and the country’s second largest city. The project will increase the share of public transport, reduce congestion, and bolster economic growth in the city. According to the plans, the network should expand to over 170 km by 2030.
Impetus for Hanoi Metro
Economic growth over the past 10 years, coupled with increasing population, has led to traffic congestion, and increases in accidents, and air and noise pollution in Hanoi. The city’s GDP more than tripled between 2000 and 2010; during the same period, its population also increased from 2.5 million to 6.5 million. With the closure of the tram system in 1991 and the inadequate and inefficient bus network remaining as an alternative, the proportion of private motorised transport has risen in the city. Almost 90 per cent of the city’s transport demand is met by private vehicles, mostly motorcycles. Two-wheelers and cars have grown at annual compounded rates of 9 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively.
The situation is expected to worsen by the end of this decade if the current population and economic growth trends continue. By 2020, Hanoi’s population is expected to cross 8 million. The city is expected to grow economically at a record 11–12 per cent every year during the 2016–20 period leading to increased income and a higher share of population acquiring professional skills. Therefore, it is clear that Hanoi needs a transport solution that extends beyond an efficient bus service, specifically a rapid transit system with high frequency and capacity.
Recognising this situation, the Vietnam Ministry of Transport drafted a master plan for the city in 2008, with the objective of reducing the use of private transport and enhancing the urban environment. The plan includes the development of a rail-based mass rapid transit system for the capital. The objective is to have public transport servicing 40 per cent of the transport demand, with metro rail accounting for a 10–15 per cent share.
While extending an Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan for the project, Robert Valkovic, Principal Transport Specialist for Southeast Asia at ADB, stated, “If Hanoi doesn’t develop quality, high volume public transportation systems, the city will slowly grind to a standstill over the next decade. The metro is essential to Hanoi’s future.”
It is estimated that, at the start of revenue service, the pilot route will transport over 150,000 passengers daily. According to studies financed by the French GEF, public transport development in Hanoi is expected to halve local polluting emissions by 2020. Energy consumption should fall by 30 per cent.
Scope and status
The planned network comprises four priority metro lines (1, 2, 2A, and 3) that will span over 52 km and consist of more than 34 stations (see Table 1).
Line 2A has been under construction since January 2012. The China Railway Group is the contractor for designing and constructing this line. In addition, it will also supply equipment and material for the line. Trial runs are expected to begin in 2014, with operations starting in full swing in 2015.
Construction of Line 3, also a pilot route, began in September 2011. It was supposed to be the first line to become operational, by 2015. However, latest reports suggest that this milestone may be achieved only by 2018. The 12.5 km pilot route, running from east to west of the city, comprises an 8.5 km elevated section from the Nhon Depot to Thu Le Park and a 4 km underground section from Thu Le to the Hanoi railway station. It will serve three centres of higher education, the Temple of Literature – the symbol of the city and an important site of historical interest – and the Hanoi railway station. The project manager, the Hanoi Metropolitan Rail Transport Project Board, has appointed the French group SYSTRA to take charge of the engineering of the line.
So far, four of the nine contracts have been awarded for Line 3. The remaining contracts will be awarded by early 2014. Physical work on the Depot is under way and major works along the elevated section of the alignment are expected to begin in the second half of 2013.
Works on Line 1, which has a completion deadline of 2019, are scheduled to begin in 2013. The tender announcement of the initial procurement package for international competitive bidding is due in July 2013.
Line 2 is due to be completed by 2018. However, to date, construction has yet to begin.
Valkovic confirms that “Metro line 3 is one of four priority metro lines under development in Hanoi, with all lines expected to be operational by 2020.”
Donor assistance in financing
Hanoi’s metro system is being financed by a combination of government funding, and bilateral and multilateral development assistance:
Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is the primary donor for Lines 1 and 2. JICA has extended a total of 19.3 billion yen for these two lines, which require a total investment of 136.48 billion yen.
France, through the French Treasury (Direction Générale du Trésor) and the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement), is the main financier of the $1.08 billion Line 3 project. Together, these aforementioned agencies are covering 43.5 per cent of the total funds requirement for Line 3. In addition, ADB has offered a loan that constitutes 27 per cent of the funds, with the European Investment Bank providing around 9 per cent. The Vietnamese government is responsible for the remaining funds for Lines 1, 2, and 3.
In addition, construction of infrastructure that will ensure seamless and efficient transfers between the existing travel options to the metro network and supporting policy framework has also been planned as part of the ADB assistance. Valkovic explains: “ADB is also supporting a linked project that will improve pedestrian accessibility to stations and bus connectivity, as well as address key urban transport policy issues related to parking, traffic enforcement, and transport pricing to promote public transport usage.”
Line 2A has received the majority of the funds from the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This line has an estimated cost of about $552.86 million. Of this amount, PRC has given around $250 million as a preferential loan and around $170 million as a credit incentive. The remaining amount is covered by the Vietnam Railway Department.
Rolling stock and technology
Line 3 has been designed to allow trains to run at a speed of up to 80 kmph, with over 900 passengers per train. The entire route will be covered in 20 minutes. Initially, four-car trains will be used.
The rolling stock will meet certain design considerations. The required length, width, and height of each carriage will be 19–20 metres, 2.6–2.9 metres, and 3.8metres, respectively. The platform height will be 0.9–1.15 metres. The track, as per the current industry norm, will be standard gauge (1,435 mm).
Power will be sourced from the third rail’s 750 V DC supply system for the pilot route. Ten electricity transformer stations will be needed along the route, with one for the Depot station; the total capacity will be 2,500 kW. The total electricity demand of the project was estimated to be 7,500 kW in 2010; it is projected to increase to 16,200 kW by 2030.
A brand new commuter experience
The Hanoi Metro promises to change the face of urban transport in the city. Coupled with other transport projects currently under way – the development of a bus rapid transit system; the deployment of a common fare system for public transport; the construction of a network of expressways linking Hanoi with other key cities; and improvements to the urban road infrastructure – the share of public transport is likely to increase. In turn, commuter experience as well as air quality in the city would also improve.
