Test runs set for more trains from Dalian

HE Department of Transportation will start in February the validation testing of the third Dalian-made train set for deployment in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 in the next few months.

Transportation Communication Director Goddes Hope O. Libiran said the project management NAZARENE FEVER

office from the Philippine National Railways—the lead agency of the MRT 3 Advisory Panel— The number of MRT operational train sets, complemented by two Dalian train sets deployed in the system

targets to start the validation testing for the third train set sometime next month. Nazareno

“The commission of the third train set is ongoing. It will be deployed in the mainline for validation testing by February. Commissioning involves 1,000 kilometers of test run during off-peak hours, then validation of 150 hours—test run—in the mainline,” she said on Monday.

Once done, the railway agency will then come up with an evaluation report, which will be submitted to the transportation department.

“If PNR endorses that the train set be allowed to run regularly at Traslación the MRT 3 mainline, MRT 3 [management] will sign an acceptance document,” Libiran said.

Currently, there are two Dalian train sets deployed in the system, complementing the roughly 16 operational train sets, whose deployment varies per day.

To recall, the Aquino government jump-started the acquisition of new trains for the railway line, and tapped Dalian for the contract.

However, despite its full delivery three years ago, the government decided not to use the trains due to technical issues raised by experts.

Last year, Dalian agreed to shoulder all costs to solve the issues raised in the independent safety audit and assessment conducted by German company TUV Rheinland.

Dalian started working on modifying the weight, signaling and maintenance-equipment compatibility of the trains in July with Japanese company Toshiba Infrastructure Systems supervising and evaluating the process to ensure that the Chinese company addressed issues raised.

NONIE REYES Devotees of the Black Nazarene raise their hands as the replicas of their back the image of the Black Nazarene to the basilica in Quiapo, Manila. are being blessed, two days before the actual or hours-long procession bringing