VIETNAM'S first metro train system started operations in Hanoi on Saturday, with authorities hoping it will alleviate the capital city's traffic woes.
Trains on the Cat Linh - Ha Dong metro line in Hanoi rolled out early Saturday morning, 10 years after its construction began, as the city moved to its next phase of development.
According to a Vn Express report, city deputy chairman Duong Duc Tuan said the metro service would play an important part of the capital's public transport network.
A full trip on the 13 km elevated track will take 23 minutes after stopping at all 12 stations.
Authorities also said that the train rides will be free for the first 15 days, after which it will cost VND8,000 to VND15,000 (US$0.35 to US$0.66) for a ticket.
There will also be monthly tickets for VND100,000 to VND200,000.
In the first week, the service will be from 5.30 am to 8 pm every day with a train every 15 minutes.
After six months, the service will be extended to 10.30 pm, and there will be a train every six minutes during rush hour.
Built by China Railway Sixth Group Co Ltd, the project took 10 years to complete with hurdles and conflicts delaying the work several times.
Its cost increased by 57 per cent from the original estimate to VND18 trillion (US$868 million), with 77 per cent of it coming from official development assistance loans from China.
The city of 8.3 million people is plagued by traffic congestion during rush hour due to the large number of motorbikes and cars.
The Vn Express also reports that many Hanoian commuters were excited and thrilled at the prospect of getting to work and back without the draining and frustrating daily experience of being stuck in traffic jams.
Thousands of excited residents have been waiting to try out the train service in the hope of escaping the daily rush hour traffic jams that have plagued major cities in Vietnam.
This was mainly due to a lack of efficient public transportation system and it resulted in large numbers of private cars on the road.
Duong said the metro line would help increase the number of public transport users and another nine routes are being planned.
Many commuters also see the metro line as a symbol of the city's development.