LRTA gives Meralco joint venture P350-M air-con contract

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has awarded a joint venture the contract to replace the air-conditioning onboard LRT2 trains for P350 million.

The contract was awarded to a joint venture between MRAIL Inc. and Multi-Scan Corp. on Monday, the LRTA said Wednesday.

It covers the systematic replacement of rolling stock air conditioning system for 10 train sets.

MRAIL is the railway subsidiary of Manila Electric Co., while Multi-Scan Corp. is a company that provides railway parts and services.

To be replaced are 80 air conditioning units of 10 running trains, the LRTA said.

The replacement project is part of the multi-year rehabilitation and modernization project of the LRTA to improve the reliability, capacity, and overall efficiency of the mass rail transit system.

“We are happy that the systematic replacement project will now commence. We are aware of the surge of complaints concerning the poor air conditioning system of the trains which is why we ensured that exigent attention is given to resolve the problem,” LRTA administrator Reynaldo Berroya said.

The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019, the LRTA said.

The railway authority, however, said it intends to have some air conditioning units replaced before the year ends.

Each four-car passenger train has eight air-conditioning units with each unit required to automatically maintain a cooling capacity of 20-24°C depending on the number of passengers.

“However, at present, the cooling capacity of the trains has dropped to 50 percent of its normal cooling capacity due to the obsolescence of the board module as the trains are already 15 years old,” the LRTA said.

MRAIL and Multi-Scan promised to deliver their expertise and skills in the project, according to LRTA.

“Using parts from the original equipment manufacturer and the latest technology, the new air conditioning units will seamlessly interface with the train monitoring system and it shall be environment-friendly, energy-efficient and compliant with the Clean Air Act,” it said. —VDS, GMA News