MRT-3 project contractor to overhaul 43 of 73 light rail vehicles

MANILA, Philippines – Only 43 out of 73 light rail vehicles (LRVs) will be overhauled by the South Korean-Filipino firm that bagged the P3.809-billion contract for maintenance work of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya confirmed yesterday that the MRT-3 currently has 73 operating LRVs.

“Original number is 73 LRVs. A train has three LRVs,” Abaya said in a text message to The STAR.

Abaya, however, did not respond when asked to explain why only 43 LRVs would be overhauled instead of 73. MRT general manager Roman Buenafe did not respond to calls or text messages.

A source said the South Korean-Filipino joint venture Busan Transportation Corp., Edison Development and Construction, Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMICorp Inc. and Castan Corp. will not overhaul 30 LRVs at the MRT depot near North Ave. in Quezon City.

The source, however, clarified that the MRT-3 and the DOTC could not touch three out of the 30 LRVs pending investigation of the accident that happened in August 2014, which injured 38 commuters when a train overshot the tracks at the Taft Ave. station in Pasay City.

An eight-page contract awarded to the South Korean-Filipino company states that the firm will work on the general overhaul of 43 units of LRVs that would cost P907,369,561.81.

“The DOTC MRT-3 is desirous that the maintenance service provider execute and undertake the DOTC MRT-3 maintenance service provider, 43 LRVs general overhauling and total replacement of the signaling system which shall commence on Jan. 5, 2016 in the amount of P3.809 billion,” the contract states.

The contract was signed by DOTC officials.

A train expert, who requested anonymity, said that the MRT-3 operational glitches won’t be experienced by commuters if the DOTC started doing the overhaul work in 2014 based on the maintenance manual of the manufacturer of the trains.

“It is very overdue through the fact that it is the normal process to overhaul; they are shooting themselves in the foot,” the expert said.

An overhaul means to replace parts of trains that are no longer in good condition, including reconditioning and redefining of the traction motors, which are beyond their useful life having logged one million kilometers.

The source also said that overhauling of the LRVs is actually part of the regular maintenance contract of Busan.

“The general overhaul is the requirement under the maintenance manual of the trains. So, after every 600,000 kilometers actual run, each of the vehicles should undergo a general overhaul,” the source said.