System audit on MRT3 focuses on Dalian trains

An audit report of the Dalian trains and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) system is due to be released this month.

The use of the light rail vehicles (LRVs) assembled by China's Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stocks Co. relies on the result of the audit report.

According to Saleema Refran's report on 24 Oras, the three-month Independent Audit and Assessment done by Germany-based TUV Rheinland is set to be submitted on March 10.

The audit covers the Dalian LRVs procured under the Aquino administration, which remain unused as they were found to be incompatible with the current design of the MRT-3.

The trains were found to be too heavy for the existing rails.

However, an expert said the weight of the Dalian trains is within the allowable limit of the rain tracks.

"Gusto naming masiguro na hindi mae-expose 'yung mga tao na 'yan to an unsafe condition and 'yan 'yung dahilan kung bakit talagang tinututukan nung audit 'yung issue ng safety and compatibility 'yung mga Dalian trains," Undersecretary Timothy John Batan told reporters at the 2018 Transportation Summit.

TUV Reinland, meanwhile, refused to give details of the audit report. But an official said they are checking the condition of the railway tracks.

"We check about the design, whether it's safe...whether the safety process are implemented. And then also we certify the (inaudible) for transparency to ensure there's no corruption," an official of the TUV Reinland added.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the MRT-3 has been operating for seven consecutive days without unloading incidents.

"'Tong mga nakaraang araw, siguro sinuswerte tayo. Nandiyan ang spare parts na kailangan. Na-address-an kaagad," Tugade said.

The supposed feat was the longest the MRT-3 line had gone without any offloading mishaps recorded since the DOTr took over in November last year.

The line is currently able to operate only nine train units for daily trips.

With the general overhaul of the line scheduled this Holy Week, Tugade appealed for the public's understanding should the DOTr miss its target of getting 15 trains running by then.

"Ang target namin? Mga 15... 'di ba? Siguro before Holy Week...Huwag niyo naman sana akong sumbatan kung hindi mangyari. Kapag hindi na-achieve, eh kuwan lang, tulungan niyo na lang ho kami," he said.

The DOTr has also inked a deal with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to establish a railway institute as part of the government's agreement with Japan to improve the country's train system.

According to the report, the railway institute aims to serve as a training ground for personnel to join the public transport sector and the industry responsible for the construction and maintenance of the railway or subway system. —Margaret Claire Layug/BAP/KG, GMA News