Line 3 (Hanoi Metro)

Hanoi Metro Line 3, also known as the Line Nhổn - Ga Hà Nội, is a medium-capacity rapid transit service of the Hanoi Metro network, operated by Hanoi Metro Company. Colored dark red on transit maps, the line currently runs from Nhổn, a suburb in Bắc Từ Liêm District, west of city center, to its current terminus in Cầu Giấy Bus Interchange, located in Cầu Giấy district. When fully operational, the line will continue eastbound toward Hanoi Station, providing a direct connection to downtown Hanoi and the city's main railway station. The line operates between 5.30 am and 10pm, with headways of 6 minutes during peak hours (7 am - 8.30 am and 4.30 pm to 6pm), and 10 minutes during off-peak hours. All trains on Line 3 operate with a 4-cars formation.

This line was the first to be built in Hanoi Metro network, starting construction in September 2010 with an expected completion date in late 2016, with a budget of 18 trillion VND (US$1 billion in 2010) However, the project was plagued with delays and budget overrun, total about 34.532 trillion VND (US$1.46 billion) in 2022.

The line is divided into three segments: The first segment, which runs from Nhổn to Hanoi Station. This segment is long, consists of 12 stations in total, with the first (between Nhổn and Cầu Giấy) running elevated, while the last (between Cầu Giấy) and Hanoi Station running underground. In addition, there have been plans for a southern extension (second segment), which will run from Hanoi Station to southern district of Hoàng Mai, and a northern extension (third segment) toward Sơn Tây. Currently, only the elevated phase of first segment (between Nhổn and Cầu Giấy) is operational. About 20% of Hanoi's population in 6 districts Ba Đình, Cầu Giấy, Đống Đa, Hoàn Kiếm, Nam Từ Liêm and Bắc Từ Liêm can benefit from this line.

History

Initial developments

Line 3 dated back to 1998, when the Vietnamese government approved the 2020 vision Master Plan, which prioritise the building of a rail transit system, with a target to build 5 metro lines. Line 3 was one of the original lines considered in the master plan.

Two separate preliminary feasibility studies was conducted in 2004 and 2005 with the help of the Asian Development Bank to determine the viability of Line 3.

Four options were originally considered:

# An elevated metro line running from Nhổn depot to Swedish Embassy on Kim Mã Avenue, then running underground to Hanoi Station;
# An at-grade tramway section between Nhổn and Ringway 3, then an elevated line to Swedish Embassy on Kim Mã Avenue, then running underground to Hanoi Station;
# Similar to option 2, but the at-grade tramway would be converted to a dedicated metro line;
# An at-grade tramway section between Nhổn and to Swedish Embassy on Kim Mã Avenue, then running underground to Hanoi Station.

Out of all options, options 2 and 3 were eliminated from further consideration due to congestion and performance issues associated with a mixed circulation tramway system. Option 4 was discounted from further consideration because even though it involved a system operating on a partially dedicated route, significant adverse changes to traffic management were required, particularly at intersections and pedestrian crossings and it would have resulted in reduced operating efficiencies and travel times. As a result, option 1, which was forecasted to carry up to 458,000 people daily, was selected as the preferred option.

The name and location of stations were finalized in the 2009 Final Feasibility Study. Based on this study, fifteen stations were reduced to 12 stations, 8 elevated and 4 underground. A twin bored tunnel concept using tunnel boring machines (TBM) was selected to tunnel 15 to 8 m underground and to utilize the centerline of existing surface roads. Two underground stations, Cát Linh and Văn Miếu, were relocated one block eastward to avoid cultural significant sites.

Budget

Beside 276 million euros from the Hanoi city's budget, the project also receives 726 million euros from the four donors - the French government (DGT), French Development Agency (AFD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and European Investment Bank (EIB).

Construction progress

Implementation of the project is delayed by four years compared to the original schedule with completion expected in 2021. As of March 2017, the project has achieved 30% physical progress over the elapsed project life of 9 years. However, the project completion is expected to be delayed to 2027.

Route

Line 3: Nhổn - Hanoi Station section starts from Nhổn - to National Highway 32 - Cầu Diễn - Mai Dịch - Ring road 3 intersection - Cầu Giấy (ring road 2 intersection) - Kim Mã - Giang Vo - Cát Linh - Quốc Tử Giám and ends at Tran Hung Dao Street, in front of Hanoi Station.

Stations

Phase 1

The 1st phase of Line 3 has 12 stations including 8 elevated stations (Nhổn, Minh Khai, Phú Diễn, Cầu Diễn, Lê Đức Thọ, Vietnam National University, Chùa Hà, Cầu Giấy) and 4 underground stations (Kim Mã, Cát Linh, Văn Miếu, Hanoi Station), with concourse level, elevators and lifts. The railway platform is long.

File:Cau Giay Station 20230430-1.jpg, Cau Giay station
File:Chua Ha Station 2022-06-13.jpg, Chua Ha station
File:レドゥクト駅の駅舎.jpg, Lê Đức Thọ station
File:National University station of Line 3, Hanoi Metro, viewed from above.jpg, National University station
File:Nhon station viewed from entrance.jpg, Nhổn Station

Phase 2

The 2nd phase of Line 3 will have 7 more stations (Hàng Bài, Trần Thánh Tông, Kim Ngưu, Mai Động, Tân Mai, Tam Trinh, Yên Sở) all being completely underground with 1 depot located near Yên Sở Pumping Station. This section is 8786 m long (8.13 km underground, the remaining is for tunnel and on ground).

Fares

From 23 August 2024, Line 3's fares are as follows:

Social and environmental impacts

* Land acquisition and resettlement: To transform Hanoi's transport system, the government may acquire some land along segments of the line, and around Nhon depot. A Resettlement Plan has been prepared and updated for the project, which is consistent with the Asian Development Bank's Safeguards Policy Statement, and the updated Resettlement and Compensation Policies of the government of Vietnam.
* Environmental management: The development of the line involves significant construction works, which can generate adverse environmental impacts. These have been assessed in an international standard environmental impact assessment. The most significant impacts affecting Hanoi citizens during construction may include excessive dust and noise, traffic disturbances, and the relocation of mature trees along the metro alignment. All contractors have developed and are implementing robust environmental management plans and engineering solutions to minimize environmental impacts, and respond to any event. Overall, environmental benefits including improved air quality, reduced greenhouse gas emission and enhanced community health and safety will significantly outweigh the adverse environmental impacts.

See also

* Hanoi Metro Line 2A
* Transport in Vietnam
* HCMC Metro
* Megaproject
* Hanoi Metro

References

External links

Cầu Diễn StationCầu Giấy StationKim Mã StationMinh Khai StationVăn Miếu Station

{{Urban Rail Transit in ASEAN

Rapid transit in Vietnam
Hanoi Metro
Proposed public transport in Asia
Railway lines opened in 2024