Dalian agrees to shoulder costs for MRT repair

MANILA, Philippines — CRRC Dalian Co. Ltd. of China will shoulder all costs that come with the repair of the 48 trains it manufactured to make them compatible with the rest of the MRT-3 fleet.

“Dalian has agreed that should there be changes needed, it will be at their expense. If there is a need for spare parts, it will be at their expense too,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Tugade said the DOTr is targeting to integrate the 48 Dalian trains to MRT-3 operations within the year.

Incompatibility concerns were earlier raised with the 48 light rail vehicles procured by the previous administration for P3.8 billion after they exceeded the weight prescribed in the terms of reference (49,700 kilograms vs. 46,300 kilograms).

The MRT-3, which covers North Ave. station in Quezon City until Taft station in Pasay City, serves some 500,000 passengers daily.

Following an independent audit conducted by German firm TUV Rheinland, the DOTr said the Dalian trains could still be used if the adjustments identified in the audit are addressed “without sacrificing the safety, the security, and life of the passengers and the system.”

Tugade earlier insisted that the cost for technical adjustments relating to the 48 train cars from Dalian should be shouldered by the company, and not by the government.

The DOTr is bringing back former maintenance provider Sumitomo Corp. to rehabilitate the MRT-3 in a span of two to three years, with the objective of restoring the train line’s reliability and increase its capacity.

Tugade said the target is to finalize the deal with Sumitomo and the Japanese government within the month or middle of September at the latest.

MRT-3 started operating in 2000 and the first round of general overhaul was completed by Sumitomo in 2008.

The second round of overhaul was supposed to have been completed in 2016, but with the termination of Busan Universal Rail Inc. in November 2017, only three of the 43 trains that was covered by its contract were overhauled.