Line 2A, Hanoi Metro, also known as Cát Linh line, is an elevated mass transit railway line under testing, and part of the Hanoi Metro network. The line is expected to begin operations in 2020 or later. The 12 station line starts at Cat Linh in Dong Da District, passes through Thuong Dinh in Thanh Xuân District and ends at Yen Nghia in Ha Dong District. It will be the first rapid transit line to operate in Vietnam. Construction of the 13.1-km line started on October 2011 and was initially scheduled to be completed by 2013. The completion has been delayed due to several hurdles including finalizing funding from the government of China. The original cost estimate of $552.86 million has also ballooned to more than $868 million. Most of the funding for the project is financed by preferential loans from the Export Import Bank of China. The rest of funding is from the Vietnamese government. The bulk of the construction was completed by the fourth quarter of 2018. Operational tests were conducted at the end of 2018 and again in 2019.
Stations
The stations are built and designed with the concept of station variety. Each station has a distinct color. For example, La Khe station has a light green theme. All stations have curvy roofs, suitable for the hot, humid and rainy climate of Vietnam and consistent with Southeast Asian architecture. The roofs are covered with light-absorbing, wind-protection and radiation-proof materials. Some stations, such as Cat Linh Station, are designed with modern and neighborhood-multifunctional styles. Stations are equipped with facilities such as lifts, escalators, stairways, security cameras, wheelchair accessibility, automatic fare collection systems, and ventilation systems. Emergency exits are designed according to international standards to ensure maximum safety for passengers.
13 4-car trainsets will be supplied by CRRC, with the first train delivered in March 2017. Electricity is supplied via third rail, to ensure safety, stability and urban landscape. The train has a two-way cockpit and is convertible at both ends. Each car is approximately 20m long, with four doors on each side. One train has a maximum capacity of about 1,000 passengers, or approximately 6 passengers/m². The track has a, and is on-stream welded to ensure high speed, noise protection, vibration and anti-derailment. A modern automated signalling system ensures safety by governing the speed of the trains, and shortens train intervals.
Budget and financing
The original cost estimate was $552.86 million. Of that amount $419 million was financed by preferential loans from the Export Import Bank of China including through a preferential export buyer’s credit. The remainder of $133.86 million was funded by the Vietnamese government. Project costs rose and an additional loan of about $250 million was provided by Exim Bank in 2017. The condition of the ODA is that all contractors providing consultancy, construction or materials are from the donor.
Depot
The depot is located in Phu Luong, Ha Dong District with an area of 19.6 hectares. The depot contains an Operation Control Center, train stabling and maintenance areas, an operational building, a training area and a storage room. The OCC operates round the clock, and is responsible for monitoring, supervising and controlling the entire system, ensuring smooth operation and safety.
Connections
Line 2A is designed to ensure connectivity with other lines in the future and bus stops along the line to allow the public flexibility in selecting a route and the appropriate modes of transportation.
Along the line: connected with BRT 01 at Yen Nghia, Van Khe, La Khe va Cat Linh stations.
Cat Linh station: linked with the metro line 3, Nhon–Hanoi station section.
Thuong Dinh station: linked with the metro line 2, Nam Thang Long–Thuong Dinh section.
Yen Nghia station: connected with Yen Nghia bus station.
In the future, line 2A will be connected with line 4 and line 8.
