PNR to validate Dalian MRT train repair findings

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) has directed the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to supervise the testing of train sets manufactured by China’s CRRC Dalian Co. for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).

PNR General Manager Junn B. Magno said he was instructed by Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade to validate the report of third-party auditor TUV Rheinland on the train sets before Sumitomo Corp. takes over as the railway’s maintenance provider.

“The report enumerated the reliability factors and the hazard factors of the train sets so we need to test that before we put it into revenue service,” he said during the Senate budget hearing of the DoTr on Tuesday.

He said the PNR was tapped since it has a division in the agency which deals with the reliability and maintainability of its trains.

Mr. Magno said the PNR will conduct simulations next week to check for possible major hazards with the train sets that the Chinese firm may have missed in its repairs.

After the simulation, the train sets will be placed in provisional revenue service by the MRT-3 for at least 150 hours. Mr. Magno said the testing may be conducted this month or October.

Mr. Magno said the PNR will then provide a recommendation to Mr. Tugade whether the train sets are suitable for revenue service or whether there is still a need for CRRC Dalian Co. to rectify some issues.

“If there are still hazards, we will not finish the 150 hours and will return the trains to (CCRC) Dalian so they will rectify it,” the PNR General Manager said.

DoTr Undersecretary for Rails Timothy John R. Batan said Toshiba Infrastructure Systems will also assist the government to validate whether CCRC Dalian has repaired the issues raised with the train sets identified by TUV Rheinland.

“We will run the trains first outside revenue hours so it would not affect operations when there are passengers and later on we will do it during revenue hours… Then, we will gradually deploy the trains in the existing fleet for longer period of time,” he told reporters after the legislative hearing.

He said the process of the simulation and testing will be discussed in a meeting with the various parties on Thursday.

The DoTr hopes to deploy the Dalian trains by the end of the year after it obtained the Chinese firm’s assurance it will shoulder the costs of any modifications.

Mr. Tugade stressed the importance of the deployment of the Dalian trains during the MRT-3 rehabilitation.

“We really need to use the Dalian trains. They said it can be used. If rehabilitation starts with MRT, only 10 trains may be operational. That would be a problem to the commuters. How can we meet the ideal target of the 600,000 passenger ridership with only 10 or 12 trains?” he said during the budget hearing.

The DoTr and the Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) finalized in May the terms of the rehabilitation for the MRT-3, which will take 43 months. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

http://www.bworldonline.com/pnr-to-validate-dalian-mrt-train-repair-findings/

Dalian MRT3 trains test run in October

The government wants to test whether the trains delivered by Chinese firm CRRC Dalian Company Limited are safe for public use

The unused Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) trains delivered by Chinese firm CRRC Dalian Company Limited will be tested for public use sometime in October, railway officials confirmed.

During the budget briefing of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday, September 11, Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Jun Magno said that the 48 unused trains will undergo testing to determine whether these are safe for public use.

Dalian said it was able to rectify "hazard" issues related to the trains, and this is what PNR will test, together with Toshiba Infrastructure Systems. (READ: Dalian trains may be used later this year but...)

"Ang gagawin lang namin, subukan natin 150 hours patakbuhin [kung] totoo ba 'yung hazards na narectify na 'yan. So kung may hazards pa rin, hindi na namin tatapusin yang 150 [hours], isa-sauli na namin," Magno told reporters on Tuesday.

(What we will do is we will test-run the trains for 15 hours to know if it's true that the hazards were already rectified. If there are still hazards, we will not finish the 150 hours and send them back to Dalian.)

Magno noted that the government wants to keep a very low hazard probability, close to the rates when the MRT3 was turned over by the original manufacturer Japanese firm Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

He said that a hazard probability of 0.1% could still cause accidents and affect close to 100 passengers a year – a turnout that the government wants to avoid.

"Kaya nga may simulation muna kami para 'yang obvious na hazard matanggal na namin [ang tren sa test run]. Tapos 'yang mga hidden hazards na 'di pa namin nakikita, 'yun ang te-testing namin. Kunwari sa 150 [hours], may hidden hazard na malaki talaga, tatanggalin namin. Papa-rectify sa Dalian," Magno said.

(The reason why we have an initial simulation is so we can identify the trains with obvious hazards and remove them [from the test run]. The hidden hazards, we will be able to identify them during the test run. If there are huge hidden hazards during the 150-hour test run, we will remove them. Those have to be rectified by Dalian.)

The trains, when fielded for a test run, will be done during revenue operations. Magno estimated inserting two to 3 trains at a time, on top of the regular 15 trains servicing an average of 350,000 commuters daily.

Dalian will assume all costs related to repair of the unused trains, as well as providing spare parts, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Agreement

Railways Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said that the timeline of the test run is still being finalized.

Sumitomo, the original builder of MRT3, is set to come in as the new maintenance provider of the train system. Batan said the government is targetting the signing of agreements by the end of September to coincide with the test run of of Dalian trains.

"Practically speaking, transition [to Sumitomo] is already ongoing because there are talks already. But the full mobilization will take time between now and October," Batan said.

The 48 Dalian trains were delivered in 2016 but remained unused due to supposed compatibility issues. The DOTr said the Dalian trains exceeded the total weight required in its contract, specifying that each train should weigh 46.4 tons, but the delivered trains weighed 49.7 tons.

The new coaches were part of the MRT3 expansion project, which aimed to decongest the railway system and increase its capacity to serve over 800,000 passengers daily.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/211720-dalian-mrt3-trains-to-be-tested-october-2018

Manila LRT 1 Cavite Extension – Site Office Project

Location: Sucat, Parañaque City
Country: Philippines
Client: Bouygues Travaux Publics Phils., Inc.
Services Provided: MEPF

Meinhardt has provided Consulting Services to which will include Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection Services.

The development of Manila LRT 1 Cavite Extension – Site Office Project is a two (2) buildings, two (2) storey structure per building located near Dr. Santos Station in Sucat, Paranaque City.

The two (2) buildings will have an estimated total floor area of 3,000 sq.m (1,500 sq.m.) per building.

The site office has an estimated occupant from 250 to 300 staff and will be utilized in the next 3 to 4 years.

ADB approves Malalos-Clark rail assistance package

THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT Bank (ADB) has approved a $2-million technical assistance grant for the 51-kilometer Malolos-Clark railway.

The ADB approved the Railway Project Implementation Support and Institutional Strengthening project on Aug. 22, drawn from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, according to ADB documents.

The grant seeks to “help the government to prepare project implementation and project management, establish the institutional structure as required under the policy framework for the future railway sector in the Philippines and develop the capacity to manage operation and maintain the ensuing project.”

This includes consulting services to support the Department of Transportation (DoTr) in land acquisition, resettlement and livelihood skills development activities for persons affected by the project; consulting services to support procurement activities; consulting services to develop and implement a public communication strategy with project affected persons; consulting services to develop and implement gender mainstreaming activities under the gender action plan; and other support by consultants and training as required to accelerate project implementation.

The Philippine National Railway (PNR) North 2 Malolos-Clark railway is among the government’s flagship infrastructure projects to decongest Manila, which will link Malolos, Bulacan to Clark International Airport and Clark Green City.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the project will cost P211.43 billion, and will be co-financed by the ADB and the Japanese government.

The project is targeted to start construction by the third quarter next year, and completed by 2024.

NEDA said right-of-way clearing is ongoing, and detailed engineering design is expected to be completed by March or April next year.

The Philippine government also expects the exchange of notes and signing of the loan agreement with Japan in the fourth quarter this year.

The government is relying largely on infrastructure to boost economic growth to 7-8% until 2022, and reduce poverty rate to 14% by then. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

http://www.bworldonline.com/adb-approves-malolos-clark-rail-assistance-package/

Motoring Today | Motoring News: Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange ...

SMC plans MRT Loop to link Bulacan airport

Food-to-infrastructure conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) plans to build an MRT Loop with an airport express – similar to Hong Kong’s much-touted MTR – that would seamlessly connect Metro Manila to its planned aerotropolis in Bulacan.

The planned elevated train system will span some 200 kilometers and will connect SMC’s proposed New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulakan, Bulacan to EDSA and various points in between, SMC president and COO Ramon Ang told reporters in an interview in his office.

While the stations are still being finalized, the MRT Loop is envisioned to include a non-stop high-speed train that would allow fast connection between EDSA and the Bulacan Airport.

“In 20 minutes, you will be at the airport,” Ang said.

He said this would be something like Hong Kong’s famous MTR which connects the airport and the city, and gives passengers the option for faster travel through the airport express line.


SMC is still finalizing the cost of the MRT Loop, but Ang said this would already be part of the total cost of the massive airport project estimated at $15 billion.

Aside from the mass transport system, SMC will also construct a $1 billion spillway for excess water from Angat and Ipo Dams to drain directly to the Manila Bay.

This, he said, would solve the perennial flooding problem in Bulacan.

“We need to finish the spillway in five to six years. Otherwise, it will destroy what we are building,” Ang said.

All these new infrastructure projects namely the MRT Loop, the Airport Express and the spillway are all intended to enhance the viability of SMC’s proposed Bulacan Airport and are targeted to be ready in five to six years.

“What we have is a complete masterplan,” Ang said.

He said the company could start operations of its proposed Bulacan Airport as early as six years upon approval of the $15-billion project, making it the fastest and most viable solution to the worsening problem at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

SMC’s strong balance sheet, he said, also shows that it has the financial muscle to fund the project on its own.

“Funding is not a problem. We have a strong balance sheet,” Ang said.

Ang trumpeted the proposal, saying that NMIA “will be the most modern airport in the country and would be a real game changer.”

Based on its blueprint, NMIA has the capability to have a total of four runways, with the first two already operational on the fifth year upon approval of the project, according to company documents. The last two runways will be operational by 2024.

To be developed on a 2,500-hectare property in Bulakan, Bulacan, NMIA can accommodate 100 to 200 million people, a far cry from NAIA’s capacity of 30 million passengers.

Furthermore, NMIA will be capable of handling 60 aircraft movements per hour per runway compared to NAIA’s current runway capacity of 45 movements per hour, the project’s blueprint further showed.

More importantly, SMC said its proposal cuts the construction timeline by half as it would not require sea reclamation compared to the proposal to develop a new airport off Sangley Point in Cavite.

For the funding, SMC said the project would be entail no cost to the government.

In terms of contribution to the economy, SMC estimates that NMIA can contribute as much as P395 billion to the economy by 2025 and can generate 1.8 million jobs by that time.

Last April, the National Economic and Development Authority board gave the green light for SMC’s Bulacan airport project. But the project still needs to be subjected to a Swiss challenge.

Calls for a new premier international airport in the country are mounting after NAIA was marred by flight disruptions for at least 200 flights and at least 100,000 passengers were stranded after a Xiamen Airlines carrier veered off the runway last Aug. 16.

DOTr eyes deployment of 48 Dalian trains this year

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) targets to deploy the 48 trains that were purchased from Chinese firm CCRC Dalian Co. for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) within the year.

This developed as Dalian agreed to absorb the costs for the adjustments of the trains following the results of a study conducted by independent audit and assessment (IAA) consultant TUV Rheinland earlier this year.

The consultant's findings showed that the weights and measurements of the Dalian trains did not comply with DOTr's terms of reference.

The department is currently conducting negotiations with Japanese company Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd to take over MRT system's maintenance and rehabilitation.

“Our target for the deployment of the trains is within this year. We are also having ongoing talks with Sumitomo,” DOTr communications director Godess Hope Libiran said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday.

In a business forum earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade disclosed that Dalian has agreed to pay for the modifications that will be done on the trains during its meeting with Chinese government officials last week.

Tugade earlier said remedies to be done on the Dalian trains should not be shouldered by the Philippine government.

The issue on the Dalian trains must also be addressed as the DOTr prepares for the entry of a maintenance provider that will repair the train coaches and other facilities of the MRT.

The DOTr is eyeing Sumitomo to take over the maintenance operations of the MRT by the end of this month or September at the latest.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee has approved earlier this month the PHP22.061-billion MRT maintenance project.

The rehabilitation will increase the number of train sets in operation from 15 to 18 train sets per hour, increase the maximum speed to 60 kilometers per hour and decrease headway to 200 seconds. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1046484

LRMC to push through with Cavite extension despite fare hike delay

THE LIGHT RAIL Manila Corp. (LRMC) said it will push through with the construction of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite extension project despite possible delays in the implementation of a fare hike.

“We are already committed to building the Cavite Extension. We have already issued the Notice to Proceed to the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors Bouygues and Alstom,” LRMC President Juan F. Alfonso told BusinessWorld in a text message on Thursday.

“We have completed the clearing operations for the pre-cast yard to give way to the plant where we will be fabricating the viaduct beams,” he added.

This comes after Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told reporters on Tuesday that he hopes the private concessionaire for the LRT-1 wouldn’t let construction of the Cavite extension rely on the approval of its fare hike.

“Dapat ‘wag nilang sabihin na yung extension sa LRT-1 depende sa rate increase [They shouldn’t say that the LRT-1 extension will depend on the rate increase],” Mr. Tugade said.

In July, the LRT-1 operator said the fare hike “will assure the construction of (the train’s) extension to Sucat, Las Piñas and Bacoor,” as banks would be more open to lend funds for the company if it can recover its investment.

But Mr. Alfonso noted its concession agreement indicates the government should allow a 5% increase in LRT-1 fares every two years.

LRMC filed an application to the Department of Transportation (DoTr) in March for a P5 to P7 hike in LRT-1 fares. It was supposed to be implemented within August, but Mr. Tugade said no public hearing has been conducted yet.

“Pinag-uusapan pa po yan, may public hearing pa po yan. Pagkatapos ng public hearing may publication, and then the decision making [It’s still under discussion, there will be a hearing. After the public hearing, it will be published, then the decision making],” Mr. Tugade said.

The Transportation secretary also said the government is not open to subsidizing any LRT-1 fare increase.

“Kasi hindi kami naniniwala sa subsidiya. Kung ikaw mag-nenegosyo sa gobyerno, dapat walang guarantee, walang subsidiya, walang contractual commitment [We don’t believe in subsidies. If you’re doing business with the government, they should be no guarantee, no subsidies, no contractual commitment],” Mr. Tugade said.

For his part, Mr. Alfonso said, “As far as fare hike is concerned, we are still applying and hoping to secure approval within the year.”

Metro Pacific Investment Corp. is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group.

Tugade: LRT 1 should not make infrastructure construction dependent on fare increase

COMPANIES—particularly those engaged in big-ticket projects—should stop making the government a “hostage” by saying the construction of vital infrastructure is dependent on tariff increases under their concession agreements.

This was how Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade answered a question pertaining to updates on the fare-hike petition submitted by Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1.

“It is being discussed. But they should not say the extension of the LRT is dependent on the rate increase. They should not make us a hostage,” he said on the sidelines of a recent forum hosted by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines.

He was alluding to a July 12 statement made by LRMC President Juan F. Alfonso, who said the rate increase will “assure” the construction of the first phase of the Cavite extension of the train line, as this will “give banks the confidence to lend the company funds” for the project.

Sought for comment, Alfonso noted his group will move forward with the construction of the extension even without the tariff adjustment.

“We are already committed to building the Cavite extension. We have already issued the notice to proceed to the engineering, procurement and construction contractors Bouygues and Alstom,” he told the BusinessMirror.

He added his group has completed the clearing operations for the pre-cast yard to give way to the plant where the company will be fabricating the viaduct beams.

The yard is located in Sucat, Parañaque.

“As far as fare hike is concerned, we are still applying and hoping to secure approval within the year,” Alfonso said.

The company is seeking an increase of about P5 to P7, resulting in P25 in average fares, or about the same price as bus rides.

Currently, fares for LRT 1 rides range from P15 to P30. Since it took over the train line in 2015, no fare adjustment has been implemented so far.

The provision for a 5-percent tariff adjustment every two years is spelled out in the concession agreement signed between the transportation department and the private company.

The current fare in LRT 1 is P15, P20 and P30, depending on distance traveled.

Based on the concession agreement, Alfonso said earlier, the government may provide for subsidy if it will not approve the fare adjustment.

Tugade noted this group is not keen on giving any form of subsidy for the fare increase.

“No. Not at this time. We don’t believe in subsidy. If you will do business with the government, there should be no form of subsidy and guarantee,” he said.

For now, Tugade said stakeholders should “wait” for the process to be completed. It is currently soliciting comments from the public as to the fare adjustment.

Alfonso said the company is keen on starting the full-blast construction of the extension by October.

Targeted for completion in about four years after the delivery of easement, the 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension will connect into the existing system immediately south of the Baclaran Station and run in a generally southerly direction to Niyog, Cavite.

It will consist of elevated guideways throughout the majority of the alignment, except for the guideway section at Zapote, which will be located at grade.

Eight new stations will be provided with three intermodal facilities across Pasay City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City and Cavite. The new stations are Redemptorist, MIA, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote and Niyog. The intermodal facilities shall be located at Dr. Santos, Zapote and Niyog.

The new stations will be accessible to and from nearby community facilities, such as shops, schools, stadium and park, and will be located to suit passenger-flow routes from residential areas.

Pedestrian access to all new stations will be direct, safe and easy. Details, such as lighting to distinguish access points, pedestrian-cross striping and curb cuts for handicapped access, will be provided.

The company has invested P7.5 billion in the railway system so far since it took over in 2015.

LRMC is a company led by conglomerates Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp. in partnership with Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/tugade-lrt-1-should-not-make-infra-construction-dependent-on-fare-increase/

DOTr eyes deployment of 48 Dalian trains this year

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) targets to deploy the 48 trains that were purchased from Chinese firm CCRC Dalian Co. for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) within the year.

This developed as Dalian agreed to absorb the costs for the adjustments of the trains following the results of a study conducted by independent audit and assessment (IAA) consultant TUV Rheinland earlier this year.

The consultant’s findings showed that the weights and measurements of the Dalian trains did not comply with DOTr’s terms of reference.

The department is currently conducting negotiations with Japanese company Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd to take over MRT system’s maintenance and rehabilitation.

“Our target for the deployment of the trains is within this year. We are also having ongoing talks with Sumitomo,” DOTr communications director Godess Hope Libiran said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday.

In a business forum earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade disclosed that Dalian has agreed to pay for the modifications that will be done on the trains during its meeting with Chinese government officials last week.

Tugade earlier said remedies to be done on the Dalian trains should not be shouldered by the Philippine government.

The issue on the Dalian trains must also be addressed as the DOTr prepares for the entry of a maintenance provider that will repair the train coaches and other facilities of the MRT.

The DOTr is eyeing Sumitomo to take over the maintenance operations of the MRT by the end of this month or September at the latest.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee has approved earlier this month the PHP22.061-billion MRT maintenance project.

The rehabilitation will increase the number of train sets in operation from 15 to 18 train sets per hour, increase the maximum speed to 60 kilometers per hour and decrease headway to 200 seconds.

http://www.canadianinquirer.net/2018/08/30/dotr-eyes-deployment-48-dalian-trains-year/