Ho Chi Minh City's first metro line, which began operations last month, has seen strong public interest but has also faced some initial challenges due to weather conditions and technical issues, according to city officials.

Speaking at a press briefing, Phan Công Bằng, head of the city's Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), acknowledged that the line has experienced emergency stops to ensure passenger safety. He attributed these issues to factors such as the city's hot and humid climate and high levels of fine dust, which have impacted the performance of systems like platform screen doors.

The electromechanical systems, including signaling and control systems, were manufactured and installed by Japanese contractor Hitachi according to Japanese standards, while Vietnam is still developing its own standards for urban railways.

MAUR officials emphasized that these initial challenges are not uncommon in the early stages of metro operation and that they are working closely with contractors to address all issues within six months. They also called for passengers' understanding and patience as the system stabilizes.

The line experienced a significant disruption on December 27 due to a lightning strike, leading to a temporary halt in operations. Officials stated that while automatic system recovery was possible, they opted for a more thorough manual inspection of the electrical system as a precautionary measure, resulting in longer delays.

Despite these challenges, MAUR remains optimistic about the long-term success of Metro Line 1 and continues to work towards improving the system's reliability and efficiency.