6 new PNR rail cars seen to add 18 to 20 more trips daily —DOTr

Passengers of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) metro line may now expect more trips dily after six new Diesel Multiple Unit rail cars from Indonesia started plying the routes on Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has said.

The DOTr said 18 to 20 more trips per day will be added to the new train cars’ assigned routes from Tutuban in Manila to FTI in Taguig, and from Malabon City to FTI.

The six new train cars, manufactured by Indonesian firm PT-INKA, will also accommodate an additional 13,500 passengers to increase the total capacity of PNR from 60,000 to 73,500 riders a day.

The new railcars were launched in a ceremony at the PNR Dela Rosa Station in Makati.

PNR General Manager Junn Magno noted that the arrival of the two trainsets was ahead of the original February 2020 schedule.

The DOTr signed a deal with PT INKA for the purchase of new railcars and locomotives last year.

The six new train cars form the first batch out of 37 railcars and three locomotives that will be delivered to the country in 2020.

The PNR seeks to double its capacity to 140,000 passengers per day once all new train sets are operational. —Julia Mari Ornedo/NB, GMA News