By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter
THE GOVERNMENT expects a boost in speed and number of train sets running for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) as it officially turned over the rehabilitation and maintenance of the train line to its original designers in a ceremony Tuesday night.
Japanese firms Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo-MHI) together with TES Philippines, Inc. (TESP) started their official takeover of the MRT-3 rehabilitation and maintenance works on the eve of May 1, which continues the 24-month procedure it started in February.
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan said the entry of the group is expected to improve the speed of the MRT-3 from the current 30 kilometers per hour (kph) to its optimal 60 to 65 kph. The number of train sets running on the line is also expected to rise from the average 15 at present to about 20 after the rehabilitation.
“Yung mga riles natin are in really bad condition. That’s why meron tayong speed restriction na 30 kph. Sa June, third week of June, ’yung team natin is going to go to Japan para doon sa factory acceptance ng mga bagong riles. So as early as July, the new rails will start coming in. So by the end of this year, we would have made significant progress sa riles,” he told reporters after the turnover ceremony at the MRT Depot in Quezon City.
“Currently we are operating 15 train sets. Ang target natin after the rehabilitation, which is after 24 months, is makabalik tayo ng 20 train sets during peak hours,” Mr. Batan added.
The governments of the Philippines and Japan signed the 43-month contract for the MRT-3’s rehabilitation last year, with a project cost of P16.985 billion payable for 40 years and with a 12-year grace period.
As for the Dalian trains, or the 48 MRT-3 trains procured during the previous administration, Mr. Batan said Sumitomo-MHI wants to do its own assessment of their usability on the MRT-3.
The Dalian trains were delayed from use due to issues in its compatibility with the MRT-3 system. Its manufacturer, Chinese firm CRRC Dalian Co., already agreed last year to make the necessary adjustments to make it usable on the MRT-3.
“Essentially they need to review the documentation, they need to look at the trains themselves para ma-assess nila ’yung maintenance requirements ng Dalian trains. But they have given us indication that they are open and willing (to use it),” Mr. Batan said on Sumitomo-MHI’s request to reevaluate on its own the Dalian trains.
https://www.bworldonline.com/govt-sees-boost-in-mrt-3-speed-trains-after-turnover/
Thursday, May 2, 2019
DOTr mulls expanded role for Japanese group repairing MRT 3
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it was eyeing the possibility of Japan-based firm Sumitomo staying onboard as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3’s maintenance service provider beyond the 43-month-long rehabilitation program for the train line.
Transport Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan told reporters the DOTr was still studying whether Sumitomo could play a role in MRT 3’s “longer-term strategy” of operations and maintenance, even as it was considering Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s (MPIC) unsolicited proposal to take over MRT 3 operations.
“We are still reviewing (MPIC’s) proposal even amid ongoing legal issues that we still have to resolve,” Batan said, referring to the arbitration case filed in Singapore by South Korean firm, Busan Universal Railways Inc. (Buri), which questioned the DOTr’s termination of its contract as the train line’s maintenance provider.
On Tuesday, the DOTr officially handed over the terms of reference for the MRT 3 maintenance to Japanese consortium Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-TESP, kicking off the rehabilitation.
The handover also marked Sumitomo’s official return as MRT 3 original maintenance provider after Buri took over in 2012.
The MPIC had tried to bag the rehabilitation contract as part of a P20-billion proposal to repair, operate and maintain the MRT 3 for 30 years, with no fare hikes for at least two years.
The long-overdue project covers the entire 16.9-kilometer line, its 13 stations and Quezon City depot, and the original 72 light rail vehicles since the MRT 3 began operations in 1999.
It is partially funded by an P18-billion loan from Japan.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1112783/dotr-mulls-expanded-role-for-japanese-group-repairing-mrt-3
Transport Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan told reporters the DOTr was still studying whether Sumitomo could play a role in MRT 3’s “longer-term strategy” of operations and maintenance, even as it was considering Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s (MPIC) unsolicited proposal to take over MRT 3 operations.
“We are still reviewing (MPIC’s) proposal even amid ongoing legal issues that we still have to resolve,” Batan said, referring to the arbitration case filed in Singapore by South Korean firm, Busan Universal Railways Inc. (Buri), which questioned the DOTr’s termination of its contract as the train line’s maintenance provider.
On Tuesday, the DOTr officially handed over the terms of reference for the MRT 3 maintenance to Japanese consortium Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-TESP, kicking off the rehabilitation.
The handover also marked Sumitomo’s official return as MRT 3 original maintenance provider after Buri took over in 2012.
The MPIC had tried to bag the rehabilitation contract as part of a P20-billion proposal to repair, operate and maintain the MRT 3 for 30 years, with no fare hikes for at least two years.
The long-overdue project covers the entire 16.9-kilometer line, its 13 stations and Quezon City depot, and the original 72 light rail vehicles since the MRT 3 began operations in 1999.
It is partially funded by an P18-billion loan from Japan.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1112783/dotr-mulls-expanded-role-for-japanese-group-repairing-mrt-3
MRT-3 rehab underway with return of Sumitomo
Efforts to improve the MRT-3 rail system are underway with the return of its original maintenance provider, which seeks to increase the number of operating trains and speed up operations in the system within the next two years.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday evening officially handed over the overall rehabilitation and maintenance works of the MRT-3 back to the group of Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-TES Philippines.
The rehabilitation works are slated for completion within the first 24 months of the 43-month rehabilitation and maintenance contract signed in Dec. 28 last year, Transport Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said.
During the 24-month rehabilitation period which began in February, Batan said MRT-3 targets to increase the number of its operating trains from 15 to 20, double the train operating speed to 60 to 65 kilometers per hour, and slash by half the travel time between trains from the current seven to 10 minutes to 3.5 minutes.
“So as we move along the rehab program, the availability of trains sets and speed will gradually increase,” Batan said.
“Our objective in MRT-3 is to repair, restore and rehabilitate at the fastest possible time. And our assessment for that is by tapping the designer, the original builder and the maintenance provider of the MRT-3 for the first 12 years. That would be the fastest way to do the rehab,” he added.
MRT-3 is set undergo rehabilitation and maintenance on its electromechanical components, power supply system, rail tracks, depot equipment, elevators and escalators at all stations, as well as the overhaul of 72 light rail vehicles (LRVs).
Batan said the DOTr team is slated to go to Japan by the third week of June for the factory acceptance of the new rails.
“So as early as July, the new rails will start coming in so by the end of the year, we would have made significant progress in terms of the rails. Currently our rails are really in bad condition that’s why we have speed restriction of 30 kilometers per hour,” he said.
“Rehab and maintenance is really needed because the system is really damaged. It’s almost impossible to maintain if the core asset that is needed to be maintained is damaged. That’s why there is an initial 24-month period to restore to designed capacity,” Batan added.
MRT-3, which covers North Avenue station in Quezon City until the Taft Avenue station in Pasay City, started operating in 2000 and the first round of general overhaul was completed by Sumitomo in 2008.
The second round of overhaul was supposed to have been completed in 2016, but with the termination of Busan Universal Rail Inc. in November 2017, only three of the 43 trains that was covered by its contract were overhauled.
Batan said there are no plans to buy additional trains for the MRT-3 system which currently has 120 trains composed of 72 first generation trains and 48 Dalian trains.
“That is right about the number we need to get for an expanded capacity,” he said.
The transportation official said Sumitomo has also requested to do some more detailed investigation on the Dalian trains before deploying them in the MRT-3 system.
“Essentially, they need to review the documentation and look at the trains themselves to assess the maintenance requirements of the Dalian trains,” he said.
Incompatibility concerns were earlier raised with the 48 China-made Dalian trains procured by the previous administration for P3.8 billion after they exceeded the weight prescribed in the terms of reference (49,700 kilograms vs. 46,300 kilograms).
Following an independent audit conducted by German firm TUV Rheinland, the DOTr said the Dalian trains can still be used if the adjustments identified in the audit are addressed “without sacrificing the safety, the security, and life of the passengers and the system.”
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/05/02/1914148/mrt-3-rehab-underway-return-sumitomo
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday evening officially handed over the overall rehabilitation and maintenance works of the MRT-3 back to the group of Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-TES Philippines.
The rehabilitation works are slated for completion within the first 24 months of the 43-month rehabilitation and maintenance contract signed in Dec. 28 last year, Transport Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said.
During the 24-month rehabilitation period which began in February, Batan said MRT-3 targets to increase the number of its operating trains from 15 to 20, double the train operating speed to 60 to 65 kilometers per hour, and slash by half the travel time between trains from the current seven to 10 minutes to 3.5 minutes.
“So as we move along the rehab program, the availability of trains sets and speed will gradually increase,” Batan said.
“Our objective in MRT-3 is to repair, restore and rehabilitate at the fastest possible time. And our assessment for that is by tapping the designer, the original builder and the maintenance provider of the MRT-3 for the first 12 years. That would be the fastest way to do the rehab,” he added.
MRT-3 is set undergo rehabilitation and maintenance on its electromechanical components, power supply system, rail tracks, depot equipment, elevators and escalators at all stations, as well as the overhaul of 72 light rail vehicles (LRVs).
Batan said the DOTr team is slated to go to Japan by the third week of June for the factory acceptance of the new rails.
“So as early as July, the new rails will start coming in so by the end of the year, we would have made significant progress in terms of the rails. Currently our rails are really in bad condition that’s why we have speed restriction of 30 kilometers per hour,” he said.
“Rehab and maintenance is really needed because the system is really damaged. It’s almost impossible to maintain if the core asset that is needed to be maintained is damaged. That’s why there is an initial 24-month period to restore to designed capacity,” Batan added.
MRT-3, which covers North Avenue station in Quezon City until the Taft Avenue station in Pasay City, started operating in 2000 and the first round of general overhaul was completed by Sumitomo in 2008.
The second round of overhaul was supposed to have been completed in 2016, but with the termination of Busan Universal Rail Inc. in November 2017, only three of the 43 trains that was covered by its contract were overhauled.
Batan said there are no plans to buy additional trains for the MRT-3 system which currently has 120 trains composed of 72 first generation trains and 48 Dalian trains.
“That is right about the number we need to get for an expanded capacity,” he said.
The transportation official said Sumitomo has also requested to do some more detailed investigation on the Dalian trains before deploying them in the MRT-3 system.
“Essentially, they need to review the documentation and look at the trains themselves to assess the maintenance requirements of the Dalian trains,” he said.
Incompatibility concerns were earlier raised with the 48 China-made Dalian trains procured by the previous administration for P3.8 billion after they exceeded the weight prescribed in the terms of reference (49,700 kilograms vs. 46,300 kilograms).
Following an independent audit conducted by German firm TUV Rheinland, the DOTr said the Dalian trains can still be used if the adjustments identified in the audit are addressed “without sacrificing the safety, the security, and life of the passengers and the system.”
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/05/02/1914148/mrt-3-rehab-underway-return-sumitomo
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