Chinese firm says it is capable of providing new trains for MRT 3

MANILA, Philippines - Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co. Ltd. CNR Group of China said yesterday  it has the financial capacity and expertise to undertake the P3.8 billion contract to supply 48 brand new trains for the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT3).

The Chinese firm broke its silence after being dragged into the case filed by one of the shareholders of Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) stopping the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) from pursuing the MRT3 capacity expansion project.

“We wish to assure Filipino commuters that our products have been tested all through long years of worldwide usage and never has there been any report that our vehicles have caused fatal accidents directly attributable to inherent defects of our vehicles’ mechanical railworthiness,” Dalian Locomotive said in a statement.

The company pointed out that it has exported diesel locomotives, electric locomotives and metro cars to more than 20 countries and is regarded as one of the most reliable and trustworthy manufacturers of these types of rail vehicles.

“We have adequately trained rail engineers and a complementing staff of equally competent and experienced technical people working tirelessly to ensure the safety and reliability of our vehicles’ system and functional dependability,” the company added.

CNR Dalian was the first company that supplied AC transmission light rail vehicles (LRVs) in China and continues to supply more than 10 kinds of metro LRVs to various cities of China and elsewhere like Shenyang, Tianjin, Beijing, Xi’an, Iran and many others.

The manufactured vehicles’ excellent, safe, and reliable performance has earned for CNR Dalian a high affirmation rating from its various end users including many repeat orders.

As further proof of its track record, the Chinese firm said the AC transmission vehicles which CNR Dalian supplied to Dalian LRV line 3 in 2002 have been functioning exceptionally well for more than 10 years without any major breakdowns or reported malfunctions even after the aggregate distance covered by these LRVs is nearly 1.2 million kilometers.

Furthermore, it pointed out that the company has the financial capability to undertake the project having posted annual revenues of over CNY 10 billion.

“Dalian Locomotive was founded way back in 1899 and is a key large scale enterprise in China. It is known for manufacturing not only diesel and electric locomotives, but also LRVs, as well as metro cars and high powered medium speed engines,” the company explained.

The company is pushing for a fair and speedy resolution to the case filed by Metro Rail Transit Holdings II against the DOTC before the Makati Regional Trial Court.

Makati City RTC Branch 66 presiding judge Joselito Villarosa issued a 20-day temporary order of protection preventing the DOTC and the Chinese firm from procuring 48 brand new trains.

Last month, the DOTC awarded the P3.8 billion contract to Dalian Locomotive after after a post-evaluation process showed the company is fit to do the project.

The project is aimed at decongesting the MRT system and cut passenger waiting time as capacity has reached close to 600,000 passengers a day way above its design capacity of 350,000.

“Attempts to scuttle and abort the [MRT expansion] project is improper. CNR Dalian participated in an open bidding where invitations to bid were carried widely by big dailies in the Philippines ,” the company said.

The Chinese firm said any questions or claims of serious legal infirmities over DOTC’s right to procure LRVs for its capacity expansion project should have been raised by opposing parties before the bidding was conducted.