Hanoi rolls out first urban railway

On the right track: An aerial view of Hanoi’s first urban metro train on its first day of operation. — AFP

It’s a city of more than five million motorbikes, but Hanoi opened its first ever urban railway line as authorities try to cut traffic and pollution that have long dogged the Vietnamese capital.

After years of delays and a near-doubling of construction costs, a train eased out of Cat Linh station, close to the centre of the city, to begin its 13km journey towards the densely populated east.