Vietnam's Vingroup, France's Alstom ink deal to supply 200 metro trainsets for Hanoi

Under the contract and agreement signed in Hanoi on Tuesday, Alstom will design and manufacture the first 83 trainsets at its Valenciennes Petite-Forêt facility in France, its global center of expertise for metro trains.

For the remaining 117 trainsets, Alstom will transfer technology, technical processes, supporting equipment and core components to Vingroup, enabling the conglomerate to produce and assemble them in Vietnam.

All the Metropolis trainsets designed by Alstom for Hanoi will be new-generation five-car trains. Their bodies will be made of lightweight aluminum alloy to reduce axle loads, helping save energy and limit wear on the tracks.

The trains will feature Grade of Automation 4, the highest level of automation, allowing fully automated, driverless operation.

Their safety systems will include dual braking mechanisms combining modern disc brakes and regenerative braking, which can recover braking energy for reuse.

The cooperation between the two groups is expected to help ensure the progress of Hanoi's metro projects while laying a foundation for Vietnam to gradually develop its capacity to produce modern rail vehicles and participate more deeply in the global industrial value chain.

Martin Sion, CEO of Alstom, said combining Alstom's global expertise with Vingroup's industrial capabilities and long-term vision would lay the foundation for one of Southeast Asia's most ambitious urban rail development programs.

Sion said the agreement and technology transfer marked an important milestone in the development of Vietnam's urban rail industry and would support Hanoi's vision of a modern, integrated and sustainable urban rail network.

Nguyen Viet Quang, vice chairman and CEO of Vingroup, said railways, including high-speed and urban rail, as well as bridges, ports, logistics and other next-generation transport infrastructure, are part of the group's infrastructure pillar.

Vingroup's strategy is to connect international technology, resources and expertise with the group's industrial capabilities to contribute to developing long-term infrastructure foundations for Hanoi and Vietnam, Quang said.

He noted that Vingroup, through its member company Vinhomes, is serving as the general contractor for Hanoi's urban rail projects.

Its cooperation with Alstom to develop modern rolling stock is intended to meet the city's large-scale infrastructure development needs, he added.

Under Hanoi's master plan through 2045, the city's urban rail network is planned to reach 979 kilometers across 18 lines, serving as the backbone of its public transport system.

The network is expected to help ease traffic congestion and reduce environmental pollution while improving the quality of life for Hanoi residents.