MRT-3 to acquire P160M worth of rail grinding machine

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will undergo another improvement to extend its track life with a new rail grinding equipment, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said on Wednesday.

 

The mass rail time buying a machine to remove track irregularities and extend track life. The joint venture between Kempal Construction & Supply Corp. and TPE Share Sales Inc. has won the supply contract for the equipment.

 

Under the contract, the machine will be delivered within 360 calendar days from the issuance of a Notice to Proceed.

 

DOTC spokesperson Michael Sagcal said the notice was issued on October 2. "The maintenance works will be performed by the maintenance provider," he said in a text message on Wednesday. 

 

“With its own rail grinding machine, the MRT-3 management can minimize costs, as similar equipment will no longer be leased from other firms,” the DOTC said in a separate statement.

 

Apart from the machine, the supplier will also take care of the operations and maintenance manuals, repair tools, and a five-year supply of spare parts.

 

“This will put an end to the classification of systematic rail grinding as special repair works – which entails additional costs – and instead characterize it as an ordinary preventive maintenance undertaking,” the DOTC said.

 

The transportation and communications department also awarded last week the signaling system upgrade project to Bombardier Transportation Signal Ltd. to replace the train control system with the more contemporary EBI Screen 900 within the next seven months.  
 

MRT-3 commuters have been adjusting to the new tap-and-go ticket system implemented on Saturday. The beep card tickets lets commuters use the mass rail system with seamless transfers across the three lines – MRT 3, LRT1, and LRT2.  – Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VS, GMA News