Back in 2001, the Hanoi municipality started thinking about putting in a public transport system with a greater capacity than the bus system and asked IMV to do a study for an experimental tramway line. This led to a feasibility study funded by France (FASEP) in 2004-2005. The project evolved into a subway line in order to better meet the transit needs of the city’s rapidly growing population. It was fleshed out in 2005 by a financial commitment from France in this first east-west subway line for Hanoi (funding from the Ministry of Finance’s Emerging Country Reserve and the the Agence française de development - AFD). Ongoing engineering studies are being directed by the French SYSTRA consortium (international consulting engineers for rail and urban transport). Work is anticipated to start in 2009. In partnership with the AFD, IMV will provide technical assistance to the Hanoi People’s Committee to help this ambitious project get underway.

Project in simulation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-MLvvCfpA8