DOTC taps HK firm for MRT 3 expansion

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has tapped a Hong Kong-based consultant for the ongoing P3.8-billion capacity expansion project involving the acquisition of 48 brand-new trains for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) along EDSA.

The DOTC awarded the P2.73-million contract for the engagement of a highly technical consultant for rolling stock and depot equipment for the MRT-3 capacity expansion program to Neil Heaton.

Based on his LinkedIn profile, Heaton is general manager of Asia United Group Limited Rail and owner of ReRail Consultants. He has a 40 years of experience in the rail industry with expertise on rolling stock, maintenance and depot infrastructure projects.

The contract is valid for two months but is renewable at the option of the DOTC. DOTC Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco approved the awarding of the contract upon the recommendation of DOTC assistant secretary Sherielysse Bonifacio.

Last January, the DOTC awarded the MRT-3 capacity expansion project to CNR Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. of China for the acquisition of 48 brand-new light rail vehicles.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the new train cars are the crucial solution to long lines by increasing passenger capacity by 66 percent to 800,000 per day from the current 350,000.

This means the current three-car configuration would be made into four-car sets arriving at 2.5-minute intervals instead of the current three-minute intervals.

Abaya said the prototype unit of the new train cars would be tested on the system by August next year and three to four brand-new trains would be delivered every month thereafter.

The entire fleet of 48 trains, he added, would be delivered in December 2016.

The DOTC said a total of 11 projects worth close to P10 billion are being undertaken to improve the operations and decongest the MRT-3 that caters to about 550,000 passengers per day, way above its design capacity of 350,000 per day.

It is bidding out a three-year maintenance contract worth P2.2 billion replacing the current operator Autre Potre Technique (APT) Global to make sure that the mass transit system operates under safe running conditions and to maintain cost at a minimum level.

Meanwhile, another P1.15 billion has been earmarked for the rehabilitation of 28 aging trains of MRT-3 while the AF Consortium led by infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and conglomerate Ayala Corp. is spending P1.09 billion to establish the automated fare collection system (AFCS) to be fully operational by September next year.