Taking Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro: The fastest way to park your motorbike and get on and off the train

To travel conveniently on the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro (metro No. 1), people need to know the train schedule, pick-up and drop-off stations, and choose the appropriate connecting means of transport such as bus, motorbike, bicycle, etc.

Metro trains are ready for commercial operation. Photo: Chi Hung

According to the plan, metro line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) will be put into operation from December 22. These days, the Ho Chi Minh City transport sector is rushing to "sprint", handling the remaining tasks and procedures, ready for the day metro line 1 welcomes passengers. Hearing the news of the metro being put into operation after 12 years of construction, everyone in Ho Chi Minh City is eagerly waiting. However, many people are still unclear about how to travel and access the train.

Metro testing the elevated section from Van Thanh station to Thao Dien station. Photo: Nguyen Hue

According to the representative of the Transport Management Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, to travel on metro line 1, people must first determine the train schedule and move to the nearest station on the line. Metro line 1 is nearly 20km long with 14 stations. Of which, 3 underground stations are built in District 1, including Ben Thanh, City Theater and Ba Son; 11 elevated stations include Van Thanh Park and Tan Cang in Binh Thanh District; 9 stations in Thu Duc City (Thao Dien, An Phu, Rach Chiec, Phuoc Long, Binh Thai, Thu Duc, High-tech Park, National University, Suoi Tien Bus Station) are built along the Vo Nguyen Giap - Hanoi Highway axis. On average, each station is 1.5km apart.

Map of metro line 1. Graphics: Nguyen Hue

Thus, to access the 3 underground stations, passengers can move by stairs or escalators. The elevated stations are all built with pedestrian bridges on both sides of Hanoi Highway and Vo Nguyen Giap to increase connectivity and make it easier for people to get to the station. After arriving at the station, passengers take the stairs or elevator to the ticket check-in area and check their tickets before entering the 'platform' area - where people wait to get on and off when the train arrives. This process is controlled and guided by the operating unit's staff. Pedestrian bridges and buses help passengers easily access Metro No. 1. To help passengers easily access Metro No. 1, the entire line has 9 pedestrian bridges directly connecting to the stations to serve people walking into the station, ensuring safety and convenience. Specifically, 9 pedestrian bridges were built connecting Tan Cang, Rach Chiec, Phuoc Long, Binh Thai, High-Tech, Thao Dien, An Phu, Thu Duc and National University stations. The pedestrian bridges are about 80-150m long (depending on location), designed in different shapes, suitable for the station location. In addition, there are 5 private parking lots with a total area of ​​about 5,472m² located next to Van Thanh, Thao Dien, Rach Chiec, Phuoc Long, Binh Thai stations.

9 pedestrian bridges along the Hanoi Highway - Vo Nguyen Giap axis help passengers easily access metro line 1. Photo: Nguyen Hue

Currently, the existing bus routes with metro connection include routes 1, 3, 4, 18, 19, 20, 31, 34, 36, 38, 39, 44, 45, 52, 53, 56, 65, 75, 88, 93, 102, 109, 152, D4 with a total of 3,528 trips/day, passing through Ben Thanh market area (passengers get on/off at the transfer station on Ham Nghi street). In addition, the city will put into operation 17 bus routes connecting to the metro. In addition to buses, Ho Chi Minh City also organizes connections to 3 underground stations (Ba Son, Ben Thanh, City Theater) by 4-wheel electric vehicles, technology taxis, and public bicycles.

Inside Ba Son station, there are signs directing passengers to the most convenient platform area to take the train. Photo: Tuan Kiet

With 11 elevated stations, there will be more connections for technology motorbikes, taxis, private cars..., and more bus routes connecting to the Ho Chi Minh City National University area. People can easily and quickly access metro stations, buy tickets, board trains... through many means of transport. In the long term, the Department of Transport is studying to expand the connection from metro stations to water bus routes (by 2025). People can park their motorbikes and cars at the parking lots at Van Thanh, Thao Dien, Rach Chiec, Phuoc Long, Binh Thai stations and then move to the station to use metro line 1.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/di-metro-ben-thanh-suoi-tien-cach-gui-xe-may-len-xuong-tau-nhanh-nhat-2346384.html