By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Aug. 15 (PNA) — The Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) prototype train car finally arrived Friday after undergoing inspection in Dalian, China last month.
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) confirmed on Saturday that the prototype arrived the port of Manila at 1 a.m. on Friday.
The prototype will be assembled upon reaching the country while its components such as doors, seats, poles, and hand straps would meanwhile undergo testing in mid-November, DOTC said.
This prototype is only the first of the 48 brand-new train cars that will be delivered starting in the first quarter of 2016.
DOTC spokesperson Miguel Arthur Sagcal earlier said that once all 48 train cars are delivered, the three-train car sets will be made four-train car sets —the maximum length allowed by platforms.
To recall, the prototype last month underwent inspection by the DOTC with the prototype’s manufacturer, Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co., Ltd in Dalian, China.
This final checking was to ensure that the prototype train was compliant with the technical components and specifications of the train coaches.
DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya assured that new train cards would mean lesser maintenance requirements in the future.
Assembly is expected to take place by the end of August.(PNA)