The Dalian trains can now be…
Many are really asking if the China-made Dalian trains can be used on the MRT tracks or not. I believe two years have passed to find out just that. Last Wednesday, the DOTr finally announced the completion of TUV Rheinland's audit of the 48 coaches. Actually, those closely following the MRT situation believe the results of the audit should have been released months ago. I believe if the results of the audit were bad or detrimental to the coaches, the DOTr would not hesitate revealing that to the public. It would also provide more ammunition for them to use against the past administration.
According to DOTr Secretary Tugade, the TUV Rheinland audit has indeed been completed, but the coaches cannot be used just yet. The purchase of the trains did not comply with some of the Terms of Reference (TOR). If the trains are safe to use by the public is still being determined. Still being determined. I just had to repeat that, since I have heard the DOTr say that several times already. Secretary Tugade gave no details as to when that might be, nor was anything else mentioned with regards to the violations of the TOR.
Two years have passed since the present administration took over. Two years have passed to find out first, if the coaches could be used, and second, if the coaches are safe to use. It was said that the trains could not be used because of an incompatibility with the MRT signaling system. I even read that the trains did not have motors. Some were supposedly defective. In fact, the outcry was to return the trains and get the money back. No action was undertaken by the DOTr to return the trains. Then, it became too heavy for use on the MRT tracks. But it appears that they can be used, since the weight was distributed among more axles. Sandbags were even used to simulate a full coach. There is even a YouTube video showing the Dalian trains running under its own power on the MRT tracks.
Cases have already been filed against former administration officials in relation to the MRT controversies. Whether the trains can be safely used or not should no longer matter with regards to the cases. If the trains cannot be used, then return them. But if they can be safely used, and years have passed for them to find out, then by all means use them to alleviate the hardships the riding public has to endure on a daily basis. The results of TUV Rheinland's audit should also be made public for transparency. Dalian officials were in the country months ago to assure that their trains are safe to use. If the results of the TUV Rheinland audit show defects, then Dalian must be made to fix all of them. Isn't it that simple? Or is the real task finding out enough faults and defects to return them, and point all the fingers they can?
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