DOST’s electric hybrid train ready to tackle longer tracks

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is ready to test its electric hybrid train (EHT) on a longer stretch of tracks of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Guevara said yesterday the state-owned PNR has given the go signal for a rigorous reliability and safety testing of five EHT cars from Calamba to Santa Rosa in Laguna.

The DOST and the PNR started rail worthiness testing on the EHT on a 1.2-kilometer stretch of tracks at the PNR Tutuban station depot in Manila in June.

Guevara said the Calamba to Santa Rosa stretch rail worthiness tests would hasten the EHT testing period and fast track its use for the public.

Engineer Robert Dizon, director of the DOST Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), said they were supposed to begin testing the EHT on the Laguna stretch this week but the PNR asked for postponement due to some problems in portions of the tracks.

“We’ve been ready for it for a long time already. We’re just waiting for them,” Dizon told The STAR in a phone interview.

Dizon said the testing would last until the end of the year, beginning first with no-load runs, after which the train will be subjected to inspections for wear-and-tear and other possible problems.

After the no-load runs, the MIRDC will hold half-load then full-load runs to check the reliability, safety and wear-and-tear of the EHT.

The DOST and the MIRDC fast-tracked the development of the EHT by buying the bogie for the five-car train from Korean company Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology Co., Ltd.

Aside from the bogie, all other parts, especially the train body and other accessories and equipment, will be fabricated and built by Filipino companies.

The EHT is being offered as an option for the PNR to solve its lack of trains.

The DOST targets the train to run at a speed of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour.

The DOST and the MIRDC worked with Sung Shin RST and a Filipino truck body assembler Fil-Asia Automotive and Industries Corp. to assemble the EHT.

Fil-Asia Automotive is the same firm that was commissioned by the DOST-MIRDC to assemble the rolling stocks or train for the DOST’s Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) project that is also still in the testing stage at UP Diliman campus in Quezon City.

The EHT was among the research and development projects of the DOST to address traffic congestion in urban areas, especially Metro Manila.