The Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways will put on show the train replica of the Metro Line No. 1 connecting the downtown area and Suoi Tien Park in District 9 for public viewing from March 15, The Saigon Times Daily reported.

The blue train replica made of aluminum and stainless steel will be on display at Long Binh Depot in District 9 for visitors to comment on the design and colour of the train.

After getting comments from local residents and experts, the city will make a final decision on the type of train used for the Metro Line No.1.

As planned, Japan will hand over the first metro train to HCM City in late 2016, and 16 other trains will be transferred before the first track comes online in 2020.

In June 2013, the HCM City Management Authority for Urban Railways signed an agreement worth 370 million USD with Japanese company Hitachi to buy trains and equipment for the first metro line under construction at the moment.

The track consists of a 17.1-kilometer elevated section from Ba Son Shipyard in District 1 to Long Binh Depot near Binh Duong province. The underground section will connect the Opera House and Ba Son Shipyard.

It will take passengers no more than 30 minutes to commute between downtown HCM City and Suoi Tien Park with a maximum speed of 80 km per hour on the underground track and 110 km per hour on the elevated section.-VNA