At 10am on December 22, Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) officially opened, receiving a strong response from the city's residents. According to statistics, there were 42,108 passengers in 4 hours of operation, and this number continues to increase.
Crowded people waiting at Ben Thanh underground station (metro line 1) on the afternoon of December 22 - Photo: CHAU TUAN
On the same afternoon, Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company No. 1 (themetro operator) said that the number of passengers traveling by train from 10am to 2pm was 44 trips and about 42,108 passengers. This number is continuing to increase.
As of 4:00 p.m. the same day, there were 78 trips and about 54,600 passengers.
"Urban railway line No. 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) will be opened for operation from December 22, 2024. Passengers can use public transport services by metro for free for 30 days.
On the first day of opening, Ben Thanh station is currently overloaded. To have a better travel experience and avoid long queues, we hope people can arrange to go to other stations, or choose to experience on other days.
We respectfully ask people to line up in order, not push or shove, and give way to people with disabilities, the elderly, and children... to have fun and safe train trips," said the representative.
According to Tuoi Tre Online , by 3:30 p.m. the same day, most of the stations received strong support from the city's residents, especially at Ben Thanh central station, where people lined up from the station entrance, ticket gates and platforms.
At peak times, people line up 300-400m around Ben Thanh station to wait to experience the city's first metro line.
The general feeling of people from many places and working in many professions is that they are excited to experience the city's first metro line. Although it was a bit crowded on the first day, they still lined up to wait - Photo: CHAU TUAN
Many people from neighboring areas and other provinces have chosen this as the place to start their journey of experience.
Ms. Nguyen Nhu Thuy (living in Binh Tan district) shared: "I want to go to Ben Thanh station because this is the center of the city, I can take the train and take pictures in a modern space. Although it is quite crowded, the feeling of being immersed in the bustling atmosphere is really interesting."
However, the crowding at Ben Thanh station also caused some inconvenience. Long lines stretched out at the ticketing area and the train entrance. Some people said they had to wait 30-45 minutes to enter the station.
Due to the large number of passengers, the metro operator has recommended choosing other stations to board the train. People should consider boarding at stations such as Ba Son, Thao Dien, or Suoi Tien to avoid overcrowding.
By 3:30 p.m. the same day, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center said that about 2,200 passengers had boarded the newly opened electric bus routes connecting to Metro Line 1. In the following days, these routes will also operate for free and synchronize their hours with Metro Line 1 to conveniently pick up and drop off people by train.
Previously, speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , right on the Suoi Tien metro train to Ben Thanh, the head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, Phan Cong Bang, said that this is a big event so it will definitely receive the attention and support of the people. From today, the metro will run free for 30 days.
To avoid congestion at stations and to have a comfortable and convenient trip, people should choose suitable times to go, it is not necessary to crowd too much on the first days.
"The free trial lasts up to 30 days. At the same time, the metro runs 200 trips per day and one trip every 5-10 minutes, so people can enjoy the experience at their leisure," said Mr. Bang.
Crowds of people gathered at Ben Thanh station to catch the train. Recorded on the afternoon of December 22 - Photo: CHAU TUAN
Happy to go by metro
Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, a resident of Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, said that although he had taken the metro in many places around the world such as Russia, France, Japan and even Hanoi, taking the metro line 1 of Ho Chi Minh City brought an indescribable feeling. For him, it was a source of pride and happiness when witnessing the city he had lived in for more than 30 years gradually modernizing, improving traffic and improving the quality of life for the people. "This morning I tried the metro and I was very happy to see the train rolling after many years of waiting. I believe that metro line 1 will play an important role in developing traffic, reducing traffic jams, and helping people travel more conveniently. However, the metro system needs to be better connected with convenient services such as parking lots at stations, as well as bus routes connecting to the metro to create the most favorable conditions for people when using this modern means of transport," Mr. Thanh said.Tuoitre.vn
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/metro-so-1-dong-tu-sang-den-chieu-chi-trong-6-gio-hon-54-000-luot-nguoi-dan-da-len-tau-2024122215511369.htm#content-1
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