Ho Chi Minh City is expected to conduct a test run along the elevated section of its first metro line later this month, according to secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen.

During a meeting on Wednesday, Nen directed relevant agencies to speed up and put into use key projects, especially the long-stalled metro line No. 1.

According to the report of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the metro line project is now 92.89 percent complete.

The developer and contractor are expected to conduct the trial run of the elevated section from Suoi Tien Terminal to Binh Thai Station in late December.

In late January, the developer will carry out the trial operation of the elevated section along with the automatic train protection (ATP), automatic train operation (ATO), and automatic train supervision (ATS) systems.

The developer will strive to complete the installation of equipment on the entire route by April.

The trial operation of the entire route is expected to take place in August, while the project will come on stream by the end of 2023.

Metro line No. 1 is 19.7 kilometers long, including 2.6 kilometers of underground railways and 17.1 kilometers of elevated tracks.

It runs from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City through three underground stations and 11 stops above the ground.

The line has 17 trains, each consisting of three cars and designed to run at up to 110 kilometers per hour above the ground and 80 kilometers per hour underground.

Each Japanese-manufactured train is 61.5 meters long and can carry 930 passengers, including 147 seating and 783 standing guests.

The metro project, which started in August 2012, carries a price tag of VND43.7 trillion (US$1.9 billion).

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