DOTr unveils new PNR trains

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday unveiled two new trains for the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

The new 8100 series diesel trains from Indonesia were unveiled at the Tutuban Station in Manila by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and PNR General Manager Junn Magno, according to a 24 Oras report by Mark Salazar.

The daily passenger capacity of the PNR is seen to increase to 92,000 before June once all nine new trainsets are delivered.

The waiting time on each of the 26 stations on the train line will also be cut down to 15 to 20 minutes from the current one and a half hour, officials said.

“These new sets na dumating sa atin would entail capacity of up to 92,000 passengers a day. This alone, itong apat na dinala natin, is capable of giving us another 30,000 passengers already,” Magno said.

A maintenance worker of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) wipes the windshield of one of two Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) 8100 Series trains at the Tutuban station in Manila on Thursday, February 20, 2020 prior to the start of the Class Assignment and Send-off ceremony led by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade. Acquired from Indonesia, the trains can each accommodate 1,000 passengers. DANNY PATA

Free rides for 10 days

The new trains will carry passengers from Tutuban to Alabang and back free of charge for 10 days.

“Kumikita na siya sa short-term wise. ‘Yung long-term operations na lang [ang] kailangan namin linisin, which is 50 years nang marumi ang balance sheet,” Magno said.

Tugade said the DOTr will seek a fare increase when the “situation is ripe.”

Up until now, the government shoulders P26 for each passenger.

“It will be acceptable, I feel, if there is proper service, good facilities, proper maintenance, convenience, and comfort, then the situation is ripe to ask for a reasonable adjustment on rate,” the transportation chief said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News