Sumitomo taking over MRT-3 next month

Sumitomo will take over the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 next month and the number of operating Light Rail Vehicles can go down to 12 train sets, or 36 train cars, while the line is being rehabilitated, based on "initial discussions," according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) the other day.

"After Sumitomo takes over next month, one of the things that they will do is overhaul all MRT-3 train coaches, which BURI failed to accomplish until their contract was terminated last year," according to transport officials.

"The contract-signing is targeted next month. After that, there will be an orderly transition from our MTT to Sumitomo."

At present, discussions are still ongoing with JICA and Sumitomo on the rehabilitation program and timeline for MRT3’s 72 Czech train cars.

The objective is to rehabilitate all trains as soon as possible to restore MRT-3’s reliability and increase its capacity, meaning several train cars will be worked on at the same time, transport officials explained.

As designed, the 72 Czech trains are supposed to undergo general overhaul every 8 years.

MRT-3 started operating in 2000, and Sumitomo completed the first round of general overhaul in 2008. A second round was due in 2016.

However, BURI only managed to overhaul 3 out of the 43 train cars covered by its contract when the DOTr terminated its services in November, 2017.

The upcoming rehabilitation of MRT-3’s trains is a catch up for works already overdue in 2016, and which BURI failed to perform, the DOTr maintained.