Third Dalian train set for MRT-3 to undergo test run

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to conduct a test run on the third set of Dalian trains for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), an official said yesterday.

Goddes Hope Libiran, DOTr communications director, said in a statement that “commissioning of the third train set is ongoing.”

She said commissioning involves “1,000 kilometers of test runs during off-peak hours.” The train set would then undergo 150 hours of test runs in the MRT-3’s main line for “validation testing.”

Once the tests are done, the Philippine National Railways (PNR), which conducts the test runs for the Dalian trains, would evaluate the performance of the train set.

The first Dalian train was deployed in October last year and the second in December.

The then Department of Transportation and Communication purchased 48 coaches produced by China’s Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. for P3.759 billion in 2014.

They sat unused until DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade forged a deal with Dalian to fix the trains at no cost to the government.

The rehabilitation of the entire rail line is expected to start this month.