LRT1 operator begins deployment of new generation train sets

Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), on Wednesday began the deployment of new generation train sets for the rail system.

At a ceremony attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Pasay City, LRMC introduced its brand-new Fourth Generation trains "after a successful series of safety checks, inspections, trial runs with minimum kilometers, and acceptance tests."

The tests have been conducted since the first Gen-4 train set arrived in the Philippines in January 2021 from Spain and Mexico. 

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

There are currently 20 Gen-4 train sets in the Philippines, with the remaining 10 train sets expected to arrive from Mexico between November 2023 and February 2024. 

The 20 train sets will be deployed to the LRT1’s main line gradually —one every week— until all are operational come December this year.

The complete deployment of the 30 Gen-4 train sets on the main line is expected by the fourth quarter of 2024, in time for the completion of segment one of LRT1’s Cavite extension.

In his speech, Marcos said he is "one with the general public in eagerly anticipating the full operations of the LRT1 Cavite extension for 2027."

''The flagship infrastructure project is expected to service up to 800,000 passengers a day and shorten the travel time between Baclaran, Pasay City, and Bacoor from one hour and 10 minutes to 25 minutes,'' he said.

''Having said that, I ask the public for [their] continued patience during the construction of the LRT1 Cavite Extension.''

The Gen-4 train sets add to the existing three generations of train sets currently running along the main line of LRT1.

Each Gen-4 train set has a total capacity of 1,388 passengers per trip and is composed of four light rail vehicles (LRVS) or coaches per train set.

"LRMC has remained steadfast in upgrading the commuter experience and committed to our mission of delivering safe and efficient transport since we took over the operations in 2015. Today marks another significant milestone in modernizing our train infrastructure with the inauguration of our first new Generation-4 train," said LRMC president and CEO Juan Alfonso.

"This is a testament to private-public partnership (PPP) successfully working for the Filipino people. Our brand-new trains signal hope and give our Filipino commuters something positive to look forward to in their next LRT1 commute," he added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News