LRT1 operator begins testing 4th generation trains

Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), the private operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), on Wednesday said it has started the dynamic test runs for the brand-new fourth Generation (Gen-4) train sets along its existing line.

In a statement, LRMC said the Gen-4 trains will be seen running along the LRT-1 beginning Wednesday night, May 4, 2022 and thereafter, during off-peak hours and weekends to demonstrate reliability and performance including their compliance with the technical and operational requirements.

“We would like to inform our passengers that they will now start seeing brand-new Gen-4 trains along the LRT line 1, but they still cannot ride these Gen-4 trains yet,” said LRMC chief operating officer Enrico Benipayo.

“We are conducting these trial runs to simulate regular commercial operations and to make sure that these trains are safe for the passengers once we put them to commercial service soon,” said Benipayo.

The LRMC official said that the testing activity will not affect the normal operations of LRT-1.

“[O]ur target for the commercial use of the first Gen-4 train set is by end of May 2022,” said Benipayo.

A total of 30 Gen-4 train sets – each consisting of four light rail vehicles (LRVs) – will be put to a series of dynamic test runs in phases with two to three train sets crossing the main line per day, according to LRMC.

The new train sets were manufactured by Mitsubishi Corp. and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrorcarriles (CAF) of Spain, it said.

Each Gen-4 train set needs to complete a total of 1,000 kilometers prior to acceptance and eventual handover to LRMC for commercial use, the company said.

The Gen-4 train sets have a total capacity of 1,300 passengers, measuring 106 meters in length and 2.59 meters in width, with maximum design speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour.

LRMC said the new train sets have destination signs to inform passengers if the trains are heading north or south. The new train sets are also PWD-friendly with special areas for wheelchairs.

The driver station also features a modern design, with a monitor that shows the temperature, the company said. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News