(Reuters) — Malacanang announced on Thursday that 48 brand new coaches for MRT 3 will arrive starting September next year to improve the services of the light railway system.
The delivery of the new coaches will increase MRT 3’s capacity by 66 percent and improve headway — the gap between trains– to 2.5 minutes, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang.
He said Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya informed President Aquino of the delivery of the coaches during a meeting at the Palace on Wednesday.
Coloma further said that aside from the delivery of the new coaches, the government will also carry out maintenance and improvement projects for the light railway system.
These include train overhaul and general repair of 28 cars amounting to P1.156 billion; upgrade of the power substations and ancillary systems for P870 million; upgrade of signaling system and computer software for P184.7 million;
Improvement of radio communication system for P110 million; replacement of old rail tracks for P119.5 million; replacement of traction motors for P94.5 million; and upgrade and replacement of elevators and escalators for the benefit of persons with disability, senior citizens and pregnant women for P50 million.
The procurement of these equipment and services are either ongoing or will start next month, Coloma said, noting that most of the projects will be fully implemented in 2015, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications.
Abaya also reported on the ongoing selection process for a new maintenance service provider that will service the light railway system in the next three years, Coloma added. PND