By Aerol John Pateña/PNA
MANILA — Test runs for another set of trains purchased from Chinese firm CCRC Dalian for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will start from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1, 2019, the Department of Transportation-MRT 3 (DOTr-MRT 3) said Thursday.
“According to the PMO (project management office) handling Dalian trains, the validation testing of the third train set will run from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1, 2019 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,” the DOTr-MRT 3 said in an advisory.
The train set will be undergoing a 1,000 kilometer-test run for 150 hours before these are deployed during peak hours of the MRT-3’s operations.
In an earlier interview, DOTr communications director Godess Hope Libiran said the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will evaluate if the train set can be utilized for the regular operations of the railway system.
“If PNR endorses that the train set be allowed to run regularly at the MRT-3 mainline, MRT-3 will sign an acceptance document,” Libiran said.
The MRT-3 has deployed its first train set, which consists of three cars from October 27 to November 21 last year, while another was deployed from Dec. 11 to 23, 2018.
A total of 48 Dalian light rail vehicles were delivered to the country in 2016 but were not deployed to the MRT line due to compatibility issues.
Supplier CCRC Dalian eventually agreed to absorb the costs for the adjustments of the trains.
