Bidding opens for supply of new trains for LRT-1

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) are inviting interested bidders for the procurement of 120 brand new Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) for the LRT Line 1.

In a statement yesterday, the DOTC said the procurement of LRVs for the LRT Line 1 which currently spans Roosevelt in Quezon City up to Baclaran in Parañaque City, would be funded through a loan extended by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The bidding for the procurement of the LRVs will be exclusive to Japanese-led companies or consortia.

The new LRVs are being procured as the LRT-1 is set to be extended all the way to Bacoor in Cavite.

“With the upcoming 11.8-kilometer extension of LRT-1 comes the need to add more trains to the system. This will enable us to meet demand, and to maintain the right headway between arriving trains at the stations. This is part of the massive modernization and upgrading efforts that have started not only for LRT-1 but for all our railways,” DOTC Secretary Joseph Abaya said.

The 120 LRVs will be configured in 30 four-car train sets, to allow the rail line to accommodate up to about 750,000 passengers daily.

The winning bidder will be responsible for the technical design of the coaches and procurement of materials required for manufacturing the LRVs.

The winning firm should also ensure the LRVs comply with technical specifications through testing.

The supplier will be required to submit a project management plan, design and development plan, as well as an inspection, testing and commissioning plan.

Interested firms may now purchase bid documents, while a pre-bid conference is scheduled on Oct. 30.