MRT-3 to get new trains – DOTC

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will push through with buying 48 new trains for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) from a Chinese firm after a Makati court dismissed a case filed in connection with the P3.5-billion deal, an official said yesterday.

The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 66 dismissed on Feb. 21 an injunction case filed against the DOTC by MRT Holdings II, a major shareholder of Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC). The court cited Republic Act 8975, which states that only the Supreme Court can stop government infrastructure projects.

“The DOTC successfully fought for public interest and defended its position in court, but the true winners are the riders of MRT-3,” DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said in a statement.

The DOTC has issued a notice to proceed to Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co. of China to manufacture 48 new light rail vehicles (LRVs) for the MRT-3, “which will be delivered in tranches starting in the second half of 2015,” Abaya said.

Under the terms of the contract, Dalian has 18 months to deliver the prototype train for testing on the MRT-3 system and should then deliver the remaining trains in tranches over the next 18 months.

Abaya said Dalian promised to devote more workers to the project to deliver the prototype within 12 months and the remaining trains in monthly tranches over the next 12 months.

“Our commuters deserve better services at MRT-3, and the addition of more LRVs is long overdue,” he said.

The MRT-3 has been serving close to 600,000 passengers per day or almost double its original designed capacity of 350,000. Commuters have been complaining about the long lines at MRT stations.

With the purchase of the 48 new trains, the DOTC said four-car trains would arrive every 2.5 minutes during peak hours – an improvement from the current system, wherein three-car trains arrive every three minutes during peak hours.

MRT Holdings II has filed a case before an arbitration panel in Singapore. Another arbitration case involving an equity value buy-out of MRTC is pending in Singapore.

“The DOTC and the Department of Finance should speed up the buy-out of MRTC to free the government from having to deal with the likes of those behind the case. They were clearly more than willing to file a baseless petition and delay the project at the expense of the public,” Abaya said.