Local LRT engineers rise to the challenge

Light Rail Transit trains plying the Monumento–Baclaran route ran smoothly and efficiently yesterday as "home-grown" engineers and technicians took-over operations without any incident.

It was their first day on the job without technical assistance and guidance from foreign experts.

A few minor technical "kinks" brought long queues at LRT stations early in the morning, but engineers of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) were able to solve the problem later.

Engineer Rod Bulario, LRT Line 1 operations manager, said they hired Thursday night more than 250 technical people already familiar with operating the rail system.

Bulario said LRTA technical personnel will be able to run the line in the coming days, hopefully without any accident.

Safety concerns were raised the other day, when the LRTA did not renew its contract with Belgian rail company Transurb Technirail (TNR), which lapsed last Thursday.

TNR’s contract with LRTA involved the Belgian firm providing the technical expertise in running LRT line 1.

TNR had the maintenance contract of LRT1 for more than two years until it expired last February.

Lacking the technical capability to efficiently maintain the rail line, the LRTA extended temporarily its contract with TNR until May 15.

The contract was not renewed by the LRTA board.

The LRTA is still in the process of conducting a bidding for the contract.

As maintenance contractor, among TNR’s task was to handle the signal operations among the trains to ensure no crashes and other accidents occur.

TNR also handled the repair and maintenance of all the trains and other electronic systems.

Some sectors inside the LRTA are pushing for the renewal of TNR’s contract until July to ensure the safety of passengers. – Rainier Allan Ronda