Coming soon: Faster, more modern trains

"The ultra-modern trains that will be used by the LRT Line 2 are faster and will transport more passengers travelling along the eastern and western route of Metro Manila."

This was revealed by Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza during the recent ocular inspection of the newly-acquired LRT Line 2 coaches at its depot in Santolan, Pasig, where he was joined by Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Teddy Cruz Jr. and several LRT executives.

Mendoza stressed that the travel woes being experienced by residents of eastern Metro Manila and Quezon City may soon be over with the part of operation of the phase of the LRT Line 2, also known as the Megatren.

The first phase of the Megatren, which is from Santolan, Pasig City to Cubao, Quezon City, Will operations on April next year. The Megatren is the latest projct of the DOTC-LRTA that will be in full operation on 2004.

The 13.8-kilometer mass rail system is expected to ease the heavy traffic and speed up travel time in the following areas: Marcos Highway, Pasig Marikina; Aurora Blvd., Quezon City and San Juan Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. in Manila.

For his part, Cruz said the project is one of President Arroyo’s priority programs to develop the quality of life and lessen the traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

"The President instructed us to fast track the project to benefit commuters and improve the quality of life in the area," Cruz said.

Cruz said the 16 coaches that arrived is the first batch of 72 trains that will be delivered by Asia-Europe MRT-2 consortium led by Marubeni Corp.

He explained that the trains are electrically driven using the solid-state propulsion technology and can travel up to 80 kilometers per hour on their top speed. Once fully operational, travel from Santolan, Pasig City to Doroteo, Manila will be less than 30 minutes. With this speed, the Megatren is expected to travel 15 kph faster than its predecessor, LRT 1.

"The Megatren coaches are not light-rail. The Line 2 will utilize a high-capacity system with wider metro-type vehicles and 1,500 volts DC powered elecric motors. Engineering technology classifies them as medium-rail, not light rail mass transit system," Cruz said.

For its durability, Cruz said that the coaches have undergo dynamic testing for 8-kilometers for over two months. The said coaches were manufactured in Uiwang, Korea.

"The coaches’ body width is 3.2 meters and the length is 92.6 meters, which is bigger and faster that Czech Republic-made trains of MRT 3 and ADTRANZ trains of LRT 1," Cruz added.