Feature: Hanoi's elevated railway project symbol of close China-Vietnam cooperation

"The train, which is ordered from China, looks very beautiful while the green color is environmentally friendly. I hope that the train will soon be put into operation," 57-year-old Hanoi citizen Luong The Chien told Xinhua after carefully examined the train carriage of an elevated railway project in Vietnam's capital Hanoi.

A train prototype for the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban elevated railway project is being showcased in Hanoi to collect public feedback from Thursday.

Thousands of citizens have come to Giang Vo exhibition center in Hanoi to see the train prototype and submitted their feedback.

Vietnam has signed an agreement with China to buy 13 four-carriage trains from Beijing Subway Rolling Stock Equipment Company (BSRSE) for its Cat Linh-Ha Dong route in Hanoi.

Han Junwei, manager of BSRSE's Marketing Center Project Department, said the train is designed following the order of the Vietnamese authorities with the study of BSRSE and the sixth bureau of China Railway Engineering Corporation, the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractor of the project.

The train is in green color with an image of Khue Van Cac (the pavilion of the constellation of literature) in Van Mieu (the Temple of Literature), which is the symbol of Hanoi city and name of the route "Cat Linh - Ha Dong" in the front.

"The grab handles inside the train are designed at different heights so as to satisfy different passengers," Han told Xinhua, saying many other details are also adjusted to be suitable with Vietnamese environment features.

"Due to the hot and humid weather in Vietnam, the capacity of air conditioners inside the train is stronger compared to that on China's Beijing train, while the corrosion resistant coatings are also more durable. A system of lightning arrester is also added to the design in consideration of the weather in Hanoi," Han told Xinhua.

Furthermore, the train's wheels are equipped with noise-reduction system as the route passes many residential areas in Hanoi.

"The first thing I like is the way of seat arrangement on the train. The details of station instruction on the train are also very easy for old people to know exactly which station to get off. It will be very convenient when the train is put into operation, especially for old people and students when the road is now overloaded," Hoang Cong Hoan, a 72-year-old citizen told Xinhua.

According to Han, the first train will be shipped to Vietnam by the end of April next year for ground tests, and the other 12 trains will be arrived in Vietnam by the end of next year.

Tang Hong, General Manager in charge of overseas projects of the sixth bureau of China Railway Engineering Corporation, said the construction of the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban elevated railway project

is expected to complete for whole-route trial run at the end of 2016.

"The training of local drivers for the route has also been conducting. The first group of drivers has concluded their training and is taking practical operation at a route in China's Beijing," Tang told Xinhua, while the second group are attending training in Beijing and the recruitment for the third group is finished.

This urban elevated railway is an exemplary project for the cooperation between China and Vietnam, Han said. "Firstly, this is a public works of Hanoi and also a landmark project in the capital city which will help easing transport pressure and connecting urban and suburban areas," Han said.

"Secondly, This is the first urban elevated railway route in Hanoi with Chinese loans, technology and standards. This will be an exemplary of Chinese products' quality."

"With the participation of a Chinese company as EPC contractor, the project is also an exemplary of the friendship between the two countries," Han told Xinhua.

"The project will help increase Vietnamese people's understanding on Chinese products and technology, and strengthen mutual trust between the two countries," Han said, adding that currently, the two countries are conducting feasibility of construction of a railway route connecting Vietnamese northern localities.

Earlier, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong told local media that the train will be displayed till the end of November to collect public feedback for further revision of the design.

"Once operated, I will take a whole trip from the first station in Cat Linh to the final one in Ha Dong. I will definitely take this to go to work every day," Vietnamese citizen Luong The Chien told Xinhua after carefully examining the train. Endit