At nightfall, traffic levels subside on Hanoi’s main thoroughfares, leaving room for the site machines that move into position along the viaduct. About 100 meters of track are installed each evening by about 20 workers. Concrete is poured by machines at night so as not to disturb traffic, which is extremely heavy during the day. In all, as part of the project for Line 3 of the Hanoi Metro, 32 kilometers of track will be installed by Colas Rail: 7 kilometers at the maintenance depot, 17 kilometers on viaducts, and 8 kilometers underground. Once completed, the metro line will connect Hanoi’s central railway station to three of the city’s largest universities, also serving its main cultural sites, such as the Temple of Literature, located in the historic center. It is estimated that 8,600 passengers will be carried by Line 3 per hour in each direction. 

For the systems aspects of this metro line project (rolling stock, signaling and telecommunications), Colas Rail is working with several other French firms: Alstom and Thalès (its consortium partners) as well as Systra for engineering. As part of this latter contract, Colas Rail is supplying the high-voltage systems as well as around 40 items of equipment for rolling stock maintenance (bogie washing and cleaning equipment in particular) at the depot located in Nhon, to the west of Hanoi. Two years of warranty service on the equipment are also to be provided. With this first project in Vietnam, Colas Rail intends to cement its position as a preferred partner in the country, with the aim of standing out from its well-established Asian competitors. The highly anticipated Line 3 will allow Hanoi to breathe more easily while the city continues to grow at a rapid pace.