DOST’s hybrid train starts test runs

MANILA, Philippines — The hybrid electric train (HET) developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) yesterday started its 150-hour validation test at the Philippine National Railways (PNR), paving the way for the train’s full commercial operation on the state-owned Luzon railway.

DOST-MIRDC’s engineer Pablo Acuin, HET development project leader, said the first day of validation test run went smoothly as expected.

“We’re confident that it can complete the 150-hour requirement for validation,” Acuin told The STAR.

The HET would run three loops a day, on the PNR’s Alabang to Calamba route spanning 28 kilometers and eight stations, a total of 16 stations in one loop.

“There are two loops in the morning and one in the afternoon,” Acuin said.

Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña and top DOST officials along with PNR operations manager Joseline Geronimo joined an inaugural run of the HET from the PNR station in Alabang up to the Biñan station and back again, two weeks ago.

MIRDC director engineer Robert Dizon said PNR personnel were given training on running and maintaining the HET since late April to prepare them for the 150-hour validation.

The MIRDC had finished assembly of the HET in 2016, after which they started various requisite tests to get it accepted for public transport use by the PNR.

PNR currently uses mostly 30-year-old trains donated by the Japanese government 10 years ago. He said the trains had been used for 20 years already when they were donated to the PNR a decade ago.

Dizon said research and development cost to develop and build the HET was just P120 million. Miscellaneous costs for the no-load, half-load and full-load tests and other reliability, availability, maintainability and safety tests run to around P20 million for three years.