New, modern and well-equipped buses have been deployed for three routes in Ho Chi Minh City in a bid to change local commuters’ bad impression of public transportation.

These services are called ‘model bus routes,’ carrying hope that they will set an example for other bus operators to follow and revamp their own fleet, according to the city’s transport department.

The revamped services are route No.3, from Ben Thanh to Thanh Loc, No.18 from Ben Thanh to Hiep Thanh Market, and No.33, from An Suong Bus Station to the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City campus.

The No.3 bus currently has some 11,000 daily customers, while the No.18 and No.33 serve 12,000 and 25,000 passengers, respectively.

On Friday, new buses were deployed for the three services and have won over passengers.

The vehicles run on compressed natural gas and have such features as free Wi-Fi, newspapers and specific seats for passengers with disability. Hearing impaired passengers will be announced via an automatic speaker system when the bus is near a stop.

The new buses of the route No.18 in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Many passengers invited to try the ‘model buses’ on Friday morning have responded positively to the quality of the vehicles, as well as behavior of the drivers and assistants.

“Just yesterday the bus was dirty and smelly but I was able to travel on a clean one today,” Cao Thuy Linh said after trying out the new No.18 bus.

“I am happy for this and hope this will be sustained rather than staying good for a short time.”

Cao Thi Nam, an elder passenger, said she believed that everyone will get rid of their motorbikes and turn to public transportation if “all buses are modern, safe, and punctual like these ‘model buses’.”

Three-month pilot

Tran Chi Trung, director of the city’s management center of public transportation, said besides the modern equipment, it is also a top priority that drivers be punctual and behave properly with passengers, despite working under pressure.

The buses are thus equipped with surveillance cameras and GPS systems, he added.

Trung said the center has also worked with local police to have a solution to curb pickpocket or sexual harassment on these ‘model buses.’

He also revealed that the three routes are chosen for the program for a reason.

“All of the three routes have many problems that need solving and we want to start with them, while we could have chosen other services that would require smaller effort,” he said.

For instance, Trung said the No.33 bus is known for multiple cases of pickpocket, while the No.3 route is a complicated one, having to run through District 12, Go Vap District and Phu Nhuan District before entering the city’s center.

The center will review the effectiveness of the ‘model buses’ in February 2018 to decide if the program should be expanded, Trung said.

“The ‘model bus’ is an effort by traffic authorities to boost the use of public transportation and limit personal vehicles,” Bui Xuan Cuong, director of the city’s transport department, said.