HÀ NỘI — More than 80 per cent of respondents surveyed about the proposed train design for the city’s metro line 3 rated the plans highly and over 90 per cent of them said they would love to try the new means of transport when the metro line is officially operational.

The details were unveiled by Nguyễn Cao Minh, head of Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB), at a press conference in Hà Nội on Friday.

“With a large majority of respondents giving high credit to the train design selected, we believe that there will be a strong support from local residents for the metro line No 3 when it is officially put into operation”, Minh said.

The survey was conducted by the MRB from September 5-18 to gather opinions on the exterior and interior design of metro line No 3, which is being developed by the French firm Alstom.

Key factors for the public are punctuality, congestion-free, comfortable seats for elderly and people with disabilities, and a modern interior design as well as a good mix of colours, according to the survey.

Hà Nội metro line No 3. — Communications materials for Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line, ADB-MRB

More than 1,000 people were randomly selected to participate in face-to-face interviews. Most respondents are those living and working close to the planned eight elevated rail stations of metro line 3, Nhổn-Hà Nội Station section, including school and college students, office workers and the elderly and equally distributed by gender.

Aside from face-to-face surveys, the MRB also collected ideas from the public via online publications and the social media page of Hanoi metro. Results from these surveys showed that most people surveyed appreciated the design for its aesthetics, dynamism and comfort.

Đoàn Việt Dũng, country director of French firm Alstom, said the colours of the trains are inspired by rice field and dragon fruits – the typical agricultural products of Việt Nam.

Each train can carry up to 950 people and emit the lowest amount of carbon dioxide. The low floor makes it easier for passengers to board and get off the trains, especially those carrying hand luggage and people on wheel chairs.

With such social and environmental benefits, the metro line No 3 was expected to attract a lot of passengers, he said, adding that once the design is officially approved by Hà Nội People’s Committee, Alstom will start production.

The metro line No 3, connecting Nhổn and Hà Nội Station, will span 12.5km, running through six districts: Nam Từ Liêm, Bắc Từ Liêm, Cầu Giấy, Ba Đình, Đống Đa and Hoàn Kiếm. It consists of 12 stations including eight elevated and four underground.

According to the MRB, the Nhổn – Hà Nội Station section will be in commercial operation on the elevated 8-km route by early 2021, departing from Nhổn and travelling to S8 Station (Cầu Giấy). The remaining 4.5-km underground section will be put into operation by the end of 2022.

The total investment for the project is nearly VNĐ36 trillion (US$1.5 billion). — VNS