PNR BUYS 7 NEW TRAINS WORTH P2.37B

@dexcabalzaINQ Just months after it purchased two trains from Indonesia, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) bought another seven trains worth P2.37 billion as part of its efforts to improve the country’s oldest rail system.

Under the PNR’s two contracts with the Indonesian government-owned PT Industri Kereta Api (PT Inka), the three diesel hydraulic locomotive (DHL) and four diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains will be delivered to the country between December 2019 and January 2020.

The contracts were signed by PNR General Manager Junn Magno and PT Inka President Budi Noviantoro and witnessed by officials of the Department of Transportation led by Secretary Arthur Tugade. Also present was Rini Soemarno, Indonesian minister of stateowned enterprises.

The DHL trains, with a contract price of P1.306 billion, have five coaches each and can carry 1,330 passengers per trip.

Magno said the DHL trains were the solution to rail service interruptions during the rainy season as these can wade into floodwaters up to 20 inches deep.

The cheaper DMU trains, with a contract price of P1.071 billion, have four cars each and can accommodate 1,090 passengers.

Magno said this was the first time in 40 years that the PNR purchased new trains using its budget allocation this year of P3.5 billion.

In January, the PNR bought two diesel-electric trains from PT Inka worth P485.3 million.