Two contracts for the construction of the Hanoi metro were signed on 22 November between SYSTRA and Hanoi Metropolitan Rail Transport Project Board (HRB – the unit of the Hanoi City Authority in charge of managing the project). The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the French Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Hervé Novelli.

Together, the two contracts are worth 36 million euros and the total cost of the project is estimated to be around 500 million euros. It will lead to the construction of the city of Hanoi’s first metro line, planned to be inaugurated in 2010 when the city celebrates its millennium.

The line will be 12.5 km long and will run from the Nhon terminus, which houses the depot and maintenance facility, to Hanoi Central station. The line runs on elevated section for most of its route and then goes underground close to the city centre until it reaches the station, a distance of 2.9 km. There are plans for 15 stations. As General Consultant, SYSTRA’s role will be to provide all the design studies, prepare the request for tenders to be held in 2008, assess the bids, oversee construction and the manufacture of rolling stock and provide assistance with the commissioning, launch and operation of the service.

Prior to this, SYSTRA had already conducted planning and feasibility studies for the project.