APD | Deal for new trains signed with CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive

By APD writer Carmelo M. Acuña

The long-awaited return of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul will soon come to fulfillment after PNR General Manager Junn Magno signed the procurement contract of standard gauge Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) with CRRC Locomotive Vice President Wang Qialin today.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade. Undersecretary for Railwauys John Batan and CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive General Manager Fu Chengjun stood witnesses to the event.

It will be recalled last October 23,2019, CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd., a Chinese company, was decalred the winning bidder for the delivery of standard gauge DMU trains to the PNR.

In a Department of Transportation statement released today, PNR General Manager Magno said the train service will cut 80 percent of the travel time between Manila and the Bicol region in the southern tip of Luzon.

The project consists of three train sets of three car formations. These train sets, which are scheduled to arrive in the Philippines by June 2021, will be assigned for long haul service from Calamba City in Laguna Province to Naga City in Camarines Sur and later on to Legazpi City in Albay.

Secretary Arthur Tugade (with garland) is shown being briefed by CRRC official on the features of the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) which will be delivered to the Philippines by June 2021. (DOTr Photo)

The project consists of three train sets of three car formations. These train sets, which are set to arrive in the country in June 2021, will be initially deployed for long haul service from Calamba in Laguna to Naga City in Camarines Sur and eventually to Legazpi City in Albay.

Secretary Tugade said the trains sets with three types of accommodation. The DMU trains will have business, first and second class accommodations. The trains can accommodate 168 passengers with 36 seats for business class, 52 seats for first class and 80 seats for second class.

PNR used to cover 479 kilometers of tracks from Manila to Bicol until it stopped operation in 2014 due to right of way issues and lack of trains.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)