Vietnam’s First City Train Line Lacks Riders

Vietnam’s First City Train Line Lacks Riders

The Cat Linh-Ha Dong city train line in Hanoi, Vietnam entered service on November 21.

It is Vietnam's first metro¹ train. People are saying good things about the train line. But others are questioning the project.

The 13-kilometer-long line has 12 stations. It starts at Cat Linh railway station in north-central Hanoi and ends in the southwestern area of Ha Dong. The train can travel at up to 80 kilometers an hour. The trip along the whole line takes about 24 minutes. It is designed to be able to carry 1 million passengers a day when finished.

The line is expected to ease² traffic and reduce private vehicle use in Hanoi. Citizens in Vietnam's capital said the quality of the service is good. They are hopeful about the metro line.

A Hanoi office worker who asked that her name not be used noted³ that she cannot use the new line to get to work. But, she said she hopes it will help reduce traffic, shorten⁴ travel times, and reduce transportation pressures.

"Since I care about the environment, people's use of public transport will make a significant⁵ contribution to reducing dust and noise pollution," she told VOA.

During two-weeks of free trial service at its opening, crowds gathered to ride. But, Vietnamese media last month reported a lack of passengers. Reports from the first days of ticket sales suggest that the number of passengers was low, at about 12,000 a day. That is equal to only eight percent of capacity⁶.

This should worry the Hanoi city government, which oversees⁷ the project. Building the line has been delayed by many years and has cost more money than officials planned.

In 2008, the project had a total starting budget of $552.8 million. By 2017, the amount had increased to about $868 million.

"Leaders of the transport industry have so many times promised to put it into operation, but then the promises are broken, causing people to be angry and skeptical⁸," said Nguyen Van Thanh, a retired⁹ worker in Ha Dong.

Dieu Anh works¹⁰ in public relations at a company that deals in property. She told VOA that the people of Hanoi used to have high expectations for the metro line. But after so many missed deadlines, the people were unsure.

"It was not until the metro line operated that I dared to believe that it had finally happened," she said.

Observers¹¹ say Vietnam lacks the experience to carry out such projects. It is just the second city railway in Vietnam after the Nhon-Hanoi line, which is still being built.

Words in This Story

significant –adj. large enough to be noticed and have an effect

contribution –n. something that is done to cause something to happen

capacity –n. the ability to hold or contain people or things — usually singular¹²

skeptical –adj. having or expressing doubt about something

dare –v. to not be afraid to do something

factor –n. something that helps produce or influence a result : one of the things that cause something to happen

aspect –n. the way, or one of the ways, a person, place, or thing appears

1 metro   

n.地铁；adj.大都市的；(METRO)麦德隆(财富500强公司之一总部所在地德国，主要经营零售)

参考例句：

• Can you reach the park by metro?你可以乘地铁到达那个公园吗？
• The metro flood gate system is a disaster prevention equipment.地铁防淹门系统是一种防灾设备。

2 ease   

n. 安乐,安逸,悠闲; v. 使...安乐,使...安心,减轻,放松

参考例句：

• His mind was at ease and he felt confident in the future. 他心情舒畅,对前途很有信心。
• You should ease up on the child and stop scolding her. 你应该对那个孩子宽松些,不要再骂她了。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 shorten   

vt.弄短，缩小，减少

参考例句：

• Minor accidents can shorten the life of a car.小事故会缩短汽车寿命。
• My dress is too long I must shorten it.我的连衣裙太长了，我得把它截短些。

5 significant   

adj.相当数量的；意义重大的；意味深长的

参考例句：

• Your success today may be significant for your whole future.你今天的成功对你的整个未来可能是重要的。
• She cast him a significant smile.她向他投去意味深长的一笑。

6 capacity   

n.能力，力量，接受力；容量，能量，容积

参考例句：

• She is employed by the president in an advisory capacity.她被总裁聘为顾问。
• This carriage has a seating capacity of 120 people.这节车厢定员120人。

7 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

8 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

9 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

10 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

11 observers   

n.观察者( observer的名词复数 )；遵守者；观测者；目击者

参考例句：

• According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off. 据目击者说，飞机起飞后不久就爆炸了。
• Some military observers fear the US could get entangled in another war. 一些军事观察家担心美国会卷入另一场战争。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 singular   

adj.个人的，单数的，独一的，唯一的，非凡的；n.单数

参考例句：

• The young man has a singular ear for music.这个年轻人对音乐有非凡的欣赏力。
• The noun is in the singular.这个名词是单数形式。