HCMC – Hanoi’s urban railway expansion has reached another milestone as the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) launched a second tunnel boring machine (TBM) to excavate the underground section of the Nhon–Hanoi Station metro line.
This follows the deployment of the first TBM, which has already completed nearly one kilometer of tunneling.
The second TBM began drilling from Station S9 to Kim Ma Station at a depth of 17.8 meters. Initially operating at a reduced speed, it will gradually increase to a target excavation rate of 10 meters per day. The tunneling process, covering two parallel tunnels, is expected to take 16 months.
Once tunneling reaches Station S12, the machines will be dismantled, and auxiliary equipment will be relocated back to Station S9 for removal.
As of now, 53.46% of the underground construction package (CP03) has been completed. To keep the project on schedule, the Hyundai & Ghella joint venture (HGU) has deployed senior experts to oversee operations.
The Nhon–Hanoi Station metro line, spanning 12.5 kilometers—with 8.5 kilometers elevated and four kilometers underground—is projected to be operational by 2027. Once completed, it is expected to ease congestion in central Hanoi, improve commuting efficiency, and contribute to reducing pollution.
The line will run along National Highway 32, passing through Cau Dien, Mai Dich, Cau Giay, Kim Ma, and Cat Linh, before terminating at Hanoi Station. Built with a 1,435mm standard-gauge track, the system will feature 12 stations and operate with 10 trainsets.
The total investment in the project stands at VND34.83 trillion, with construction spanning from 2009 to 2027.
