Under the Ecotrans project, TRAMOC (Hanoi Transport Management and Operation Center) held a seminar that brought together companies operating bus lines on the city network and representatives of equipment manufacturers. This meeting provided an opportunity to present the new regulatory framework for bus standardization, developed for the purpose of improving public transport performance, as well as the quality of the vehicles and passenger intake.

TRAMOC officials outlined some technical recommendations broken down into 20 points for the purpose of standardizing the technical and ergonomic features of buses on the road, including such things as the size of the buses (length, height) and technical specifications (engines, transmissions, braking systems, lighting and flasher systems, etc.). Other points focused on standardizing the ergonomics of the coaches (quality of seating, number of seats, number of doors, steps, etc.).

Different contributors (TRAMOC officials and a number of foreign consultants) showed that the bus standardization process was a crucial step towards enhancement of the public transport network. Generally speaking, these improvements must focus on:

• Reduction of polluting exhaust fumes
• Reduction of fuel consumption
• Improvement of safety (for both passengers and other road users)
• Improvement of passenger comfort
• Capturing value from the corporate image of public transit
• Adapting the service to accommodate people with mobility issues

However, the partners are aware that to achieve these objectives, standardization of rolling stock is not an adequate condition of itself. Indeed, improvement of the network requires infrastructure improvement as well (transfer points, exclusive bus line right-of-ways) and driver training. However, standardization is a major step because it reflects the capacity of the Hanoi City departments to coordinate operator companies and ensure consistency in terms of the public transit supply. Standardization will make it possible for bus companies to improve their service, reduce certain operating costs (fuel, for instance) and, last but not least, attract more users.