Construction of viaducts sections and eight stations in the new urban railway project in Hanoi – which will connect Nhon Street in Tu Liem district and Hanoi Railway Station – is scheduled to start in February, 2012.

The route will be 12.5 km long, with four kilometres underground, at a total investment of 18 trillion VND (882 million USD). It will go through five districts of the city – Tu Liem, Cau Giay, Dong Da, Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh, according to the Hanoi Department of Architecture - Planning.

There will be 12 stations along the line, which is designed for a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour and capable of serving of over 900 passengers in each train. Travel time for the whole length of the line will be about 20 minutes and all stations will be equipped with automatic ticket-checking systems.

The project management board is studying and planning for the underground portion of the project, which is expected to be completed and put into operation in late 2016./.