Poe sets inspection of MRT prototype trains

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Grace Poe has scheduled an inspection of the prototype trains to be used by the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Sept. 8 to see if they would meet the requirements of the troubled mass transport system.

The inspection would coincide with the resumption of the hearing of the committee on public services on the MRT-3.

Poe said the committee would look at the progress of the rehabilitation plan being implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for the MRT-3 based on what was reported by the agency last March 2.

“The upcoming hearing will be a chance to reveal whether the trains are compatible with our MRT-3 system and see how well they perform,” Poe said, referring to the prototype of the 48 new trains made by China’s Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. Ltd. CNR Group. 

The DOTC is spending P3.759 billion for the purchase of the trains from China. 

Poe, who heads the public services subcommittee on transportation, said she expects the light rail vehicle prototype to be “ready and moving” by Sept. 10.

Apart from the physical inspection of the trains, Poe said the contract for the purchase of these would also be scrutinized by the committee to ensure that the government will not be shortchanged by the supplier of the train cars.

“We also have to know the terms of the contract entered into by the DOTC with the supplier. We have to make sure that liability of the supplier is specified in case the trains have defects or if they prove to be incompatible with the MRT-3 system,” she added.

The DOTC earlier said the prototype arrived from China on Aug. 14 and was expected to be assembled by the end of August.

Poe said she would ask the DOTC officials to explain the delay in the delivery of the 48 new train sets.

“Every delay means more hours wasted by MRT-3 commuters in the long queues in train stations. Every delay only prolongs the agony for our long-suffering commuters. DOTC owes them an explanation on what causes these delays,” she said, adding that she is disappointed at the very slow progress of the DOTC’s MRT-3 rehabilitation plan.

Poe lamented that instead of the September 2015 target set by the DOTC for the start of the monthly delivery of the 48 three-train cars, the timeline has been pushed back to January 2016.