Mitsubishi Corp bags LRT 1 train contract

MANILA, Philippines — Mitsubishi Corp. has won the contract to supply 120 cars – equivalent to 30 train sets – for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced yesterday.

In a statement, Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) arm said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expected to award to Mitsubishi this week the contract for the supply of the new rolling stocks that would be carried out beginning 2020 until 2022.

The project is part of JICA’s ¥43.252 billion ODA loan for the “Capacity Enforcement of Mass Transit Systems in Metro Manila Project” that aims to support the upgrade of transportation infrastructure in the country.

In an announcement on its website, Mitsubishi Corp. said the contract for the supply of the new rolling stocks is approximately ¥30 billion. It will supply cars manufactured by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. (CAF), Spain’s largest rolling stock manufacturer, while equipment installed on the rolling stock will adopt Japanese technology and products.

Mitsubishi said CAF is one of the largest rolling stock manufacturer in Europe.

“MC and CAF have a longstanding relationship and have collaborated on a number of projects, including the supply of rolling stock for the Istanbul Metro in Turkey and the concession for the Canberra Light Rail Transit Project in Australia,” the firm said.

JICA said the new rolling stocks would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Once completed, the new cars of LRT Line 1 can accommodate 1,388 passengers per train and more than double the number of running trains to 222.

“Through the project, JICA aims to support the Philippines in accommodating growing demand for quality mass transport and job opportunities,” said Susumu Ito, JICA chief representative to the Philippines.

“The present administration’s thrust to usher in a ‘golden age of infrastructure’ could also mean a ‘golden age for investments’ in the Philippines.’ With this, JICA hopes to continue contributing to Philippine economic growth in a sustainable way through infrastructure development,” he added.

JICA said shifting from road-based transport to rail based mass transit could help ease the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila due to urbanization and population growth.

Metro Manila’s urban rail systems—LRT Line 1, MRT Line 3, and LRT Line 2—which were built in the mid-1980s  are now incapable of servicing the current transport demand in the metro and surrounding areas.