The test will take place for three to six months, according to Le Kim Thanh, director of railway projects management unit under the Ministry of Transport.

The deadline for the project has been delayed several times.

To date, about 90% of construction work has been completed, including stations, stairways connecting stations with the ground and 13 kilometres of tracks.

Deputy Transport Minister Nguyen Hong Truong on February 2 urged contractors to speed up construction so that the project will be completed on schedule.

All twelve of the stations of the Cat Linh–Ha Dong Line, also known as Line 2A, are above ground.

Thanh said the main contractor was purchasing equipment for the project to begin installation from March. Decorations of stations and two depots are scheduled to be finalised by the end of that month.

He also noted that the procurement of rolling stocks for the project has been completed and the first carriages would arrive in Vietnam in the next few days.

Work on the project began in October 2009 at an original cost of US$550 million, but this was later increased by US$300 million.