EDSA EDSA EDSA...
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MRT 3 quake-proof, commuters assured


Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT 3) general manager Roberto Lastimoso said yesterday the EDSA-based railway system’s structures are earthquake-proof, allaying fears of passengers in the wake of the temblors that rocked Asia over the weekend.


The railway system’s structures are designed to withstand earthquakes, Lastimoso stressed, as mandated by the project’s engineers, builders and financiers.

Aside from this, Lastimoso said, MRT personnel – specifically security guards – are continuously undergoing drills not only against temblors but also fires and other natural and man-made catastrophes and emergencies.

All MRT 3 stations, he added, have evacuation plans that are posted in strategic locations.

An average of 430,000 passengers ride the MRT 3 daily from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. (JC Bello Ruiz)

http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/05/30/MTNN2006053065475.html

Ever since the Ruby Tower collapse, building codes in the Philippines are very strict and followed religiously by the major contractors. So MRT3 should be very safe in an event of a groundshaking :okay:

^^hehe except for that part , posted about a year or two ago in the older mrt thread about subsidence in lrt 2 ! yikes :) at least they fixed it right away. In general huge infrastructure projects like these are prepared. Be really more frightened in a private building specially a small old one!

I take the MRT3 everyday, to and from work. Yesterday while on the way home, the MRT I was riding took at least double the normal time it takes to reach the North station from Ortigas staion. There were moments the the train I was in just would stop before a station, as in stop for a few minutes. It was very annoying, the train car driver stated over the PA system that there was still a train car ahead of us in the approaching station, but for all of the stations?

It would be really be great if there would be scheduled trips not as their ride-as-they-arrive way of doing things :bash:

^^sometimes, things like that happen talaga. dito nga rin, yung BART train ganun din minsan lalo na pag rush hour.

that thing also happens with lrt 2... minsan as long as 10 minutes PER STATION (well, bago rin mag-station) kami naghintay sa train... bad 3p nga eh... late nako nun... nasa jruiz palang ako bumaba nako sa sobrang inis... nag-jeep nalang ako... hehehe... :) hindi pa traffic. :lol: :) wala lang.

How strange , Iwonder why this would happen!

the mrt trains are starting to look really old and worn out. That's too bad because they're not even that old.

^^ they just look over used.

yeah.. it's a common scene in the MRTs... one reason is.. when the stations get too crowded due to late arrivals of trains.. people tend to push themselves into the trains stopping the doors from closing.. thus delaying the departure of the train... sometimes it's also because the train ahead of yours is just defective...

actually what I don't like with the MRTs we have is that during non-peak hours, trains arrive about 10 minutes gap.. or more.. which cause the bunching up of passengers waiting on the platform area.. thus.. even on non-peak hours, the trains are packed.. and while you wait on the platform, you sweat profusely due to the heat on the stations... this is what I'm experiencing this past days as I'm on a 12-9pm shift..

I take the MRT3 everyday, to and from work. Yesterday while on the way home, the MRT I was riding took at least double the normal time it takes to reach the North station from Ortigas staion. There were moments the the train I was in just would stop before a station, as in stop for a few minutes. It was very annoying, the train car driver stated over the PA system that there was still a train car ahead of us in the approaching station, but for all of the stations?

It would be really be great if there would be scheduled trips not as their ride-as-they-arrive way of doing things :bash:


traffic on the rail road tracks! :lol:

The longest gap of train arrival is in LRT Line 2. Sometime it will take 10 minutes or more before the train arrives.

Question : How much is the fare??? MRT and LRT 2???

Question : How much is the fare??? MRT and LRT 2???

12 pesos to 15 pesos sa LRT 1 and 2
10 pesos to 15 pesos sa MRT

normal lang ba sa MRT pag nagspark yung wire? kasi kanina nag spark yung wire pero occasionally lang nung paalis na yung train..

The longest gap of train arrival is in LRT Line 2. Sometime it will take 10 minutes or more before the train arrives.

na-experience ko na ung nakasulat sa ticker sa station
"Next train to SANTOLAN in 16 minutes"
bad 3p ako nun... pa-uwi na kasi ako nun at masakit na ang tiyan ko... (you know what i mean.. hehehe... :) )

normal lang ba sa MRT pag nagspark yung wire? kasi kanina nag spark yung wire pero occasionally lang nung paalis na yung train..

Well, if the system is well grounded, then there is nothing to worry about. I guess these trains are also designed to shut down (similar to a circuit breaker) if there is a problem on the line that powers them.

na-experience ko na ung nakasulat sa ticker sa station
"Next train to SANTOLAN in 16 minutes"
bad 3p ako nun... pa-uwi na kasi ako nun at masakit na ang tiyan ko... (you know what i mean.. hehehe... :) )

wala pa naman Wash Room ang Line 2 :D. Konti lang kasi ang train ng Line 2 kaya mahaba ang gap. Mas pangit naman sa Line 1, kasi 10 to 15 minutes ka na na naghihintay tapos pag dating puno pa ang tren tapos 2 coaches lang. Dapat kasi wag na nila gamitin yong 2 coaches. Pagsamasamahin na lang nila para lahat 3-4 coaches na kasi dami talaga sumasakay.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1461/lrt2vl.jpg

We need more pictures here!!

That's why we come to this fourm right?? TO SEE PICTURES :)

^^I saw this on tv, apparently they've been doing earthquake and other emergency drills the past weeks

bawal kayang kumuha ng pics sa LRT.. dati kasi nag picture kami dun, napagsabihan kami.. kakahiya kasi lahat ng tao narinig.

mabute na yon. Kase sa panahon ngayon you can never be sure. Isang loko lang na nabayaran at bam and dameng pahamak at perwisyo. lalo na me history na ang lrt na nabomba.

bawal kayang kumuha ng pics sa LRT.. dati kasi nag picture kami dun, napagsabihan kami.. kakahiya kasi lahat ng tao narinig.

dapat kasi isinama mo yong guard. Sabihin mo lang 'Manong may kamukha kayong artista' Pwede ba magpapicture kasama nyo? Tapos edit mo na lang sa photoshop.

wala pa naman Wash Room ang Line 2 :D. Konti lang kasi ang train ng Line 2 kaya mahaba ang gap. Mas pangit naman sa Line 1, kasi 10 to 15 minutes ka na na naghihintay tapos pag dating puno pa ang tren tapos 2 coaches lang. Dapat kasi wag na nila gamitin yong 2 coaches. Pagsamasamahin na lang nila para lahat 3-4 coaches na kasi dami talaga sumasakay.

Merong CR ang LRT2. Problem is wala silang signs na nagsasabing yun yung CR. Magtanong na lang kayo sa guard. One time nag-CR kami sa Katipunan Station andun lang pala siya sa gilid sa tabi ng control room. Kakatawa bakit kaya nila tinatago yung CR? O baka naman yung CR para sa staff eh para na rin ata sa mga pasahero.

sorry etoh lang kaya ko kasi ang dami talagang guards tapos madami ring surveillance cam... :lol:



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eun lang.. :D

There's a blurb in today's businessworld about Cusi of MIAA talking to the lrta about a 250 meter extension of the lrt backlaran line to domestic airport. Makes a lot of sense actually and it can't be too expensive too. My question is though is that isnt't he domestic terminal supposed to be closed? Unless they foresee the smaller airlines to operate out of this indefinitely.

Love those pics... what stations are they???

^^ santolan, recto and v.mapa.. :D

bute hindi ka napagkamalang perv myx. panay pwet and nakunan mo sa escalator.

^^ haha.. syempre pa simple lang ginagawa ko... kunwari hawak ko lang yung cam ko.. haha..

thanks sa pics myx, puro pwet ngah, hahaha :D

There's a blurb in today's businessworld about Cusi of MIAA talking to the lrta about a 250 meter extension of the lrt backlaran line to domestic airport. Makes a lot of sense actually and it can't be too expensive too. My question is though is that isnt't he domestic terminal supposed to be closed? Unless they foresee the smaller airlines to operate out of this indefinitely.

The LRT depot is near the domestic airport. If they wanted to, they could even extend the LRT-1 to NAIA-3. It's physically feasible.

wala pa naman Wash Room ang Line 2 :D. Konti lang kasi ang train ng Line 2 kaya mahaba ang gap. Mas pangit naman sa Line 1, kasi 10 to 15 minutes ka na na naghihintay tapos pag dating puno pa ang tren tapos 2 coaches lang. Dapat kasi wag na nila gamitin yong 2 coaches. Pagsamasamahin na lang nila para lahat 3-4 coaches na kasi dami talaga sumasakay.

may CR sila... i know. na-aksidente nako sa Pureza station eh... nakakahiya., :lol:

The LRT depot is near the domestic airport. If they wanted to, they could even extend the LRT-1 to NAIA-3. It's physically feasible

i saw my map and mukhang madali lang ngang i connect ang line one via its depot to NAIA 3... malapit lang pala xa... daan lang via andrews ave... :) sana nga matuloy... :) :colgate:

The LRT depot is near the domestic airport. If they wanted to, they could even extend the LRT-1 to NAIA-3. It's physically feasible.
I totally agree with you. If they're considering this project they may want to study it. Although realistically a line directly from ortigas/makati/fortboni would be best serve Naia 3 since there would be tons of business travellers who are most likely to take the lrt to the airport as their time is controlled. Nevertheless, It must be less than 1 km to extend a terminus all the way to Naia3.

Wait and see na lang tayo kung matutuloy yong MRT Edsa - FBGC - NAIA link.

Deadline set for MRT-3 extension bidding
Malacañang has ordered the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) to finish within the next three months the bidding for the Metro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT-3) extension project.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave this order on Wednesday, the day the Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed the reappointment of Leandro R. Mendoza as Transportation and Communications secretary. Mr. Mendoza, former Chief of the Philippine National Police, was first appointed by Mrs. Arroyo as DoTC chief in July 2002.

In a telephone interview, DoTC spokesman Thompson Lantion said the MRT-3 extension is one of the priority projects of the Arroyo government for this year.

With total length of 6.2 km, the MRT-3 extension will connect the MRT-3 Monumento station to the soon-to-be constructed Northrail station in Caloocan. Northrail will connect Metro Manila to Northern Luzon.

The MRT-3 extension will add four new stations to the current 13.

Total construction cost for this project is estimated at $100 million.

Bidding for the MRT-3 Extension started early last year. Four of the early participants in the bidding were Sumitomo Corp., Marubeni Corp. Philippines, the Hanjin Group and the Universal LRT Corp.

Mr. Lantion blamed the "paperworks at the NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority]" for the delay.

To date, four other foreign companies -- from Taiwan, Italy, Spain, and China -- have been added to the list of interested bidders for the project.

In September 2004, the MRT Corp. (MRTC), the consortium which developed MRT-3, lost its exclusive right to bid for the extension of the EDSA rail line when the Transportation department decided to open the bidding to the public. The extension to Caloocan City should have been constructed by MRTC, the same builder for the existing Metrostar Express, within 18 months after the completion of the first phase. The extension was stalled for close to five years.

MRT-3 now transports 400,000 passengers daily, traveling to 13 stations from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City. -- Maricel E. Estavillo

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW060906/content.php?id=051

does anyone have renderings or pics of the new station to be built here ? :
.....the MRT-3 Monumento station to the soon-to-be constructed Northrail station in Caloocan......

again i saw news in the inquirer about the LRT extension to the domestic airport.. not NAIA.. although it said that there are two options,

1) extend it from the baclaran station (which would cost more and have more problems due to the right of way and all)
2) extend it from the LRT depot.. it stated that the depot is just 250m away from the domestic airport.. much cheaper and no right of way problems..

it said that cebu pacific is very much in favor of the planned extension to the domestic airport, since alot of its passenger traffic comes from domestic flights.. hopefully it pushes through within the year!!! :D

^^ I guess that means 5j has no plans to move to naia2, it's going to be a pal terminal forever, damn panalo na naman si lucio

Deadline set for MRT-3 extension bidding
Malacañang has ordered the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) to finish within the next three months the bidding for the Metro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT-3) extension project.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave this order on Wednesday, the day the Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed the reappointment of Leandro R. Mendoza as Transportation and Communications secretary. Mr. Mendoza, former Chief of the Philippine National Police, was first appointed by Mrs. Arroyo as DoTC chief in July 2002.

In a telephone interview, DoTC spokesman Thompson Lantion said the MRT-3 extension is one of the priority projects of the Arroyo government for this year.

With total length of 6.2 km, the MRT-3 extension will connect the MRT-3 Monumento station to the soon-to-be constructed Northrail station in Caloocan. Northrail will connect Metro Manila to Northern Luzon.

The MRT-3 extension will add four new stations to the current 13.

Total construction cost for this project is estimated at $100 million.

Bidding for the MRT-3 Extension started early last year. Four of the early participants in the bidding were Sumitomo Corp., Marubeni Corp. Philippines, the Hanjin Group and the Universal LRT Corp.

Mr. Lantion blamed the "paperworks at the NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority]" for the delay.

To date, four other foreign companies -- from Taiwan, Italy, Spain, and China -- have been added to the list of interested bidders for the project.

In September 2004, the MRT Corp. (MRTC), the consortium which developed MRT-3, lost its exclusive right to bid for the extension of the EDSA rail line when the Transportation department decided to open the bidding to the public. The extension to Caloocan City should have been constructed by MRTC, the same builder for the existing Metrostar Express, within 18 months after the completion of the first phase. The extension was stalled for close to five years.

MRT-3 now transports 400,000 passengers daily, traveling to 13 stations from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City. -- Maricel E. Estavillo

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW060906/content.php?id=051


WHOAH WHOAH WHOAH!!!! THis article is VERY confusing! It has stats from that dreadful ENT (6.2 km) BUT stats that is more in line with extending the MRT3 at its current form ($100 million USD....US dollar has been weak lately hence why it could be cheaper ;) )

So is it possible that the dreadful ENT will now be gone? That the bidding will actually be an extension instead of that silly "stand alone" line? :yes:

Let's hope that ENT is truly dead.

What puzzles me, though, is the connection of the LRT-1 to the Domestic Airport. Both have been there since the 80's; WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN THOUGHT OF SOONER!?

well... i think it must've been a government plans..but nothing ever came to it but LRT1 was only a very simple one, a new technology in the Phils back then, nothing fancy like LRT2, it was mainly set in that route cause it was a straight one, along Taft and stuff.

Not clear with regards the ENT. An extension at 100mil for 6.2km is up to par with around 17m per km, that's the budget they've been bandying about.

The lrt 1 is quite funny when you think about it. The reason the extension is 250 meters is it's (the lrt 1 depot) literally accross the road, if i'm not mistaken the land is or was ato land! Funny they think about it now. I suppose there's a substantial rethink of What to do with the present domestic terminal. Maybe an LCC or supercheap domestic terminal for propeller airplanes.

^^ Who has been bandying for the 17 million per km? The dreadful ENT ppl or the physically extending MRT3 ppl?

When I was a kid, I always thought the terminus of LRT1 is in the airport because of the location of the depot. It is kinda silly that they wouldn't just build a station there in the depot if they really don't want to extend it to the terminals. Its a quick fix and ppl can access parts of the airport by shuttle bus.

Dotc has , it's in various articles about the lrt's in general. I think MRT3 has that budget that's why they use it.

You're actually right, everyone here seems surprised they've never thought of doing it earlier!

Government cuts by half allocation for LRT-1 extension
Posted: 10:02 AM | Jun. 13, 2006

Daxim L. Lucas
Inquirer




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THE GOVERNMENT has slashed by almost half its allocation for the recently revived plan to extend the Light Rail Transit Authority's (LRTA) Line 1 from Baclaran area in Parañaque City to Bacoor town in Cavite province.

At the same time, the LRTA management said that it is now holding discussions with four foreign groups which are interested in building the project's first phase, expected to start next year.

"Right now, I can tell you that there are three to four foreign groups talking to us," LRTA Administrator Mel Robles said in a phone interview. "It has to be a foreign group because of the [large] amount involved."

Robles declined to identify the firms, saying that the negotiations have just started. But he did say that the companies are based in the US, Japan and China, while the fourth is a consortium composed of "Middle Eastern and Indian" firms.

The project calls for the extension of the LRT Line 1 -- a Marcos-era rail system inaugurated in the early 1980s -- from its Baclaran terminus to Bacoor, Cavite.

The project is supposed to ease congestion on the two main Manila-Cavite road links -- the Coastal Road and the South Super Highway.

LRTA expects the first phase of Line 1, which will run up to Bacoor, to carry an average of 400,000 commuters per day. At present, over 350,000 passengers take the line each day.

The government eventually plans to extend the rail service all the way to the town of Dasmariñas in Cavite.

Last week, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) cut its project cost estimate for the project sharply.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Roberto R. Castañares said he was now expecting the project to cost only 430 million dollars, down from its initial 800-million-dollar tag price.

It is unclear what led to the reduction in cost, although initial indications point to the difficulty the transportation department is having in raising funds for the 11.7-kilometer rail link.

(original article can be found here (http://money.inq7.net/breakingnews/view_breakingnews.php?yyyy=2006&mon=06&dd=13&file=4))

Government cuts by half allocation for LRT-1 extension
Posted: 10:02 AM | Jun. 13, 2006

Daxim L. Lucas
Inquirer




Subscribe to Business News SMS Alerts on your mobile phone! Send ON EXTRA BUSINESS to 2207 for Globe, or EXTRA BUSINESS to 386 for Smart.

THE GOVERNMENT has slashed by almost half its allocation for the recently revived plan to extend the Light Rail Transit Authority's (LRTA) Line 1 from Baclaran area in Parañaque City to Bacoor town in Cavite province.

At the same time, the LRTA management said that it is now holding discussions with four foreign groups which are interested in building the project's first phase, expected to start next year.

"Right now, I can tell you that there are three to four foreign groups talking to us," LRTA Administrator Mel Robles said in a phone interview. "It has to be a foreign group because of the [large] amount involved."

Robles declined to identify the firms, saying that the negotiations have just started. But he did say that the companies are based in the US, Japan and China, while the fourth is a consortium composed of "Middle Eastern and Indian" firms.

The project calls for the extension of the LRT Line 1 -- a Marcos-era rail system inaugurated in the early 1980s -- from its Baclaran terminus to Bacoor, Cavite.

The project is supposed to ease congestion on the two main Manila-Cavite road links -- the Coastal Road and the South Super Highway.

LRTA expects the first phase of Line 1, which will run up to Bacoor, to carry an average of 400,000 commuters per day. At present, over 350,000 passengers take the line each day.

The government eventually plans to extend the rail service all the way to the town of Dasmariñas in Cavite.

Last week, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) cut its project cost estimate for the project sharply.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Roberto R. Castañares said he was now expecting the project to cost only 430 million dollars, down from its initial 800-million-dollar tag price.

It is unclear what led to the reduction in cost, although initial indications point to the difficulty the transportation department is having in raising funds for the 11.7-kilometer rail link.

(original article can be found here (http://money.inq7.net/breakingnews/view_breakingnews.php?yyyy=2006&mon=06&dd=13&file=4))

How can they possibly build an 11 km rail link with only $430 million dollars? PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YOU GOTTA TELL ME....since we are facing a similar situation here in Vcr with our 11 km LRT project too!!!! :sly:

How can they possibly build an 11 km rail link with only $430 million dollars? PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YOU GOTTA TELL ME....since we are facing a similar situation here in Vcr with our 11 km LRT project too!!!! :sly:

430 million for 11km is 39m$/km. If you check the subway section there are some discussions there on costs and you'll see this is not that cheap at all. Has a lot to do with type of trains, systems and infrastructure. And of course cost of construction in the Phils is much lower than in Canada.

'Erap City' firm pulls out of MRT project bidding
Posted: 4:20 AM | Jul. 04, 2006
Daxim L. Lucas
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Due to technical difficulties, we are using a text-only version of the site at the moment. We apologize for any inconvenience.

A CONSTRUCTION firm once linked to the controversial Erap City mass housing project has withdrawn its bid to build an overhead Metro Rail Transit (MRT) link from North Avenue in Quezon City to Bulacan province, an official of the Department of Transportation and Communication said.

New Kanlaon Construction Inc. has pulled out of the bidding for the so-called MRT-7 but the project's timetable will likely stay on schedule and may even move ahead, as New Kanlaon's exit will mean elimination of the Swiss challenge process, which normally takes six to eight months to complete, Assistant Secretary Roberto Castañares said.

"The would-be challenger for the MRT-7 has submitted today a letter of withdrawal from the Swiss challenge," Castañares said. "Because of that, the DoTC [Department of Transportation and Communication] will now have to go back to ICC [Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority] for approval of the concession agreement."

New Kanlaon, owned by Antonio Evangelista, who secured the P2.8-billion Erap City project in Rodriguez town, outside Manila, did not say why it withdrew from the bidding.

Inquirer sources familiar with the process said the company might have been discouraged by a government requirement for all interested parties to post a bid bond of at least $100 million.

The bid bond has been made a requirement to discourage nuisance bidders and bidders whose sole intention is to sell the rights to the project to a real investor after getting the government's approval.

The government uses Swiss challenge rules as a basis for getting competitive bids for "unsolicited" projects like MRT-7.

Under the scheme, the government must give the original project proponent -- in this case, the Universal MRT Corp. consortium led by Israeli businessman Eli Levin -- the right to improve its initial offer to match the best offer of an opposing bidder.

Castañares said the final go-ahead has to come from the Cabinet-level ICC, which acts as the clearing house for big-ticket government projects.

He said the government was fully committed to the MRT-7 project, which is valued conservatively at $1.2 billion.

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430 million for 11km is 39m$/km. If you check the subway section there are some discussions there on costs and you'll see this is not that cheap at all. Has a lot to do with type of trains, systems and infrastructure. And of course cost of construction in the Phils is much lower than in Canada.

I realize construction costs would be lower but still. I'm talking about a mostly street level tramway in Canada vs an elevated guideway in the Phil. Train cars would cost the same (although its questionable since one of our local train makers is evil) and labour can't be the sole different in construction costs between countries. Anyway, if its even possible to build the LRT1 extension at that price, I'm all for it.

Not sure if this is posted already....

LRT Link To Airport Planned
Philippine Star 6/9/06

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) plans to extend its Line 1 – the oldest of Metro Manila’s overhead rail systems from either its Baclaran station or its depot in Pasay City to the Manila Domestic Terminal.

The plan immediately drew the support of at least one airline based at the domestic air terminal, saying it would make the area more accessible to commuters. It added that the rail project proposal jivedwith the overall improvement of the domestic airport’s facility in terms of accessibility.

Two options for the extension are being evaluated. One calls for an extension
directly connecting the LRT Baclaran station to the airport, which was described as “the longer option.” The other option is an extension from LRT the depot to the airport, which was the cheaper alternative and
the easier one to do because there would be no right-of-way issues with private landowners or squatters.

The rail link would end at an LRT station that would be built
directly across the street from domestic air terminal.

^^ the actual report wasnt posted before wally, but i did tell the gist of the article before.. :) i hope that the plan comes to fruiton in a years time..

sana matuloy naman LRT/MRT hanggng sa south..

any subway projects yet?

any subway projects yet?
MRT3 extension will technically be called a subway.

i know what they are planning for sm north-monumento is gonna be a subway... :D

i believe the mrt3 extension is not fully underground..

I think the LRT and MRT should improve it's ticketing machines. I find it a hindrance if you have to line up to get your ticket!

i agree... and the stored value tickets..gets unavailable at times due to lack of tickets....

^^ parang sa ayala station grabe ang pila lagi... :D

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galing MYX
last time i went the whole MRT station wasnt operational yet
anyway, does this station goes all the way to divisoria? i didnt notice. at nakakabit din ba'to sa isetann, parang lrt dun sa carriedo?

I think the LRT and MRT should improve it's ticketing machines. I find it a hindrance if you have to line up to get your ticket!


How about adapting Japan's way of issuing tickets. They use their cellphones instead of cards or coins.

galing MYX
last time i went the whole MRT station wasnt operational yet
anyway, does this station goes all the way to divisoria? i didnt notice. at nakakabit din ba'to sa isetann, parang lrt dun sa carriedo?

Its last stop is the Recto Station connecting with LRT1 in Doroteo Jose Station through a pedestrian viaduct.

if you noticed sa MRT may mga pads na for this when you insert your tickets.. I think those pads are for cellphones.. kaya lang wala pa yung technology..

How about adapting Japan's way of issuing tickets. They use their cellphones instead of cards or coins.

galing MYX
last time i went the whole MRT station wasnt operational yet
anyway, does this station goes all the way to divisoria? i didnt notice. at nakakabit din ba'to sa isetann, parang lrt dun sa carriedo?

It would have been nice if the train does go all the way to Divesoria. Just think of the ridership increase! And the accessibility for tourists and shoppers alike to such a unique place. :yes:

Perhaps they should increase (by a small amount, perhaps 50 cents) the prices of single-trip tickets to encourage more people to buy stored value tickets and reduce those horribly long lines I see at the Ayala and Cubao MRT3 stations. They're long overdue for a fare increase anyway...

It would have been nice if the train does go all the way to Divesoria. Just think of the ridership increase! And the accessibility for tourists and shoppers alike to such a unique place. :yes:

Where buildings collapse :D lol jk
I love shopping there. :)

Initially there wer plans to extend it all the way to divisoria which obviously makes a lot of sense but I guess it's suspended while the line doesnot make money. Or perhaps the people along Recto did not want it built.

There is actually a bidding for chip type cards and system going on. I came accross one interested supplier unfortunately he backed out because of perceived corruption. I think it's a matter of time they do the smart chip/card/cell thing as the improvement in the system is substantial.

LRT Link To Airport Planned
Philippine Star - 6/9/06

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA)
plans to extend its Line 1 – the oldest of
Metro Manila’s overhead rail systems from
either its Baclaran station or its depot in
Pasay City to the Manila Domestic Terminal.
The plan immediately drew the support
of at least one airline based at the domestic
air terminal, saying it would make the
area more accessible to commuters. It
added that the rail project proposal jived
with the overall improvement of the domestic
airport’s facility in terms of accessibility.
Two options for the extension are
being evaluated. One calls for an extension
directly connecting the LRT Baclaran station
to the airport, which was described as
“the longer option.” The other option is an
extension from LRT the depot to the airport,
which was the cheaper alternative and
the easier one to do because there would
be no right-of-way issues with private landowners
or squatters. The rail link would
end at an LRT station that would be built
directly across the street from domestic
air terminal.

^^ I posted that already... ;)

i believe the mrt3 extension is not fully underground..
uhu...especially in the clover leaf area..

It would have been nice if the train does go all the way to Divesoria. Just think of the ridership increase! And the accessibility for tourists and shoppers alike to such a unique place. :yes:
yeah, even foreigners go there..

hi! does anyone have any article about LRT...
re: loss
re:buget
re:how many people uses it?

tnx

^^ try to visit the website of lrta. there is a link here --> www.geocities.com/ncbmandy . Thanks to the cute forumer who owns this site :D

wala dun e...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pk7pyQHfF0

a small video.. (by me) para sa mga gustong ma-experience na sumakay sa LRT2.

There's an article in businessworld that says there is a snag in the austrian donation. It was not very clear what the status is, except that there is some delay so far.

Austria to help build railway academy
Inquirer
Last updated 03:51am (Mla time) 07/21/2006
http://business.inq7.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=10949

THE Philippine and Austrian governments signed Thursday a technology transfer agreement that would the pave the way for establishment of a Philippine National Railways Academy and an upgrade of Metro Manila's overhead Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

Vienna also signified interest to sell or donate trains for use on the MRT line, which runs on the EDSA highway.

Under the agreement, the Austrian transport, innovation and technology ministry will send experts to help establish the academy that will train future engineers and track operators.

Guiling Mamondiong, undersecretary for rail transport of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), and Austrian State Secretary Eduard Mainoni signed for their respective governments.

The agreement on technology transfer is a follow-up on an accord signed in June 2005 under which the Austrian government and the DoTC would explore development of railway projects in the islands of Mindanao and Panay using Austrian technology.

The next step is for a technical group to determine how to transfer Austrian railway technology to the Philippines and to plan how Vienna's trains can be refitted for use on the MRT, said Roberto Lastimoso, assistant secretary at the DoTC and general manager of Metrostar Express, which operates the MRT.

Lastimoso said that Vienna's offer to sell or donate trains would ease under-capacity on the MRT.

The MRT can handle 350,000 passengers daily at full capacity But over 460,000 take it every day, he said. Riza T. Olchondra, with INQ7.net

^^ ang galing... i read din na ang TUP (technological univ of the phil) ay mag oofer ng rail courses... in cooperation with LRTA... nabasa ko ata un sa 'Libre'..

-----------------------
d ko pala nakuwento... nung nabalita pala sa TV na may yero daw dun sa bubong nung LRT tapos pag pasok sa tunnel ng katipunan (galing santolan) ay tumigil ung tren...

pero may hindi inilabas ang ltra... (or hindi ko narinig sa balita)

according dun sa mga nakasakay sa train.. (may friends din ako na nandun mismo sa tren nung nangyari un..) hindi lang daw basta tumigil ung tren... may mga sumabog daw.. mga 3 times.. palakas ng palakas each time... sobrang nagpapanic na ung mga tao at nag-iiyakan at nagtitilihan... feeling nila mamamatay na daw sila...

at hindi pa nagtatapos dun... may usok pa nga daw na pumasok sa tren.,.. nakakatakot daw talaga..

pero buti nalang daw maraming security guard sa loob ng tren...

eventually, binuksan ang mga pintuan, at pinaglakad sila sa gilid ng tren papuntang katipunan.. (ata..)

grabe... kung andun ako baka wala akong maaalala kasi baka hinimatay nako nun,., :lol:

wala lang just sharin'... kinuwento ito sakin ng friend nung barkada ko... nakakatrauma!

Galing ng pagka-kwento mo, Richard, suspense. :hilarious

ayon sa reliable source may umutot daw na malakas 3 times kaya nag sigawan ang mga tao akala nila mamatay na sila sa baho, yon po ang totoong nangyari.

^^ ... :lol: .... ^^

nagiiyakan sila sa baho... :) :lol:

:hahaha: :hahaha: ^^^^^^ Umutot? Sus disaster nga un pag ganon, para kang asa gas chamber! :hahaha: :hahaha:

Initially there wer plans to extend it all the way to divisoria which obviously makes a lot of sense but I guess it's suspended while the line doesnot make money. Or perhaps the people along Recto did not want it built.

There is actually a bidding for chip type cards and system going on. I came accross one interested supplier unfortunately he backed out because of perceived corruption. I think it's a matter of time they do the smart chip/card/cell thing as the improvement in the system is substantial.

i'm not sure if this has been posted but anyway, MRT/LRT electronic tickets thru Globe G-Cash will be possible anytime soon. Globe users' mobile phones can be read by radio signals by simply putting them near the existing card readers in MRT stations. tapos, auto-debited sa g-cash account. no need to line up in long queues. i don't know if Smart is involved in the project though.

@richard- alam ko ang pup, may transport engineering na course and part ng studies nila yung mga mrt/lrt...

^^ yup.. B.S. Transportation Management.

i'm not sure if this has been posted but anyway, MRT/LRT electronic tickets thru Globe G-Cash will be possible anytime soon. Globe users' mobile phones can be read by radio signals by simply putting them near the existing card readers in MRT stations. tapos, auto-debited sa g-cash account. no need to line up in long queues. i don't know if Smart is involved in the project though.
VEry exciting , we are all eagerly awaiting this

^^ yup.. B.S. Transportation Management.

i knew someone kase na ganun course nya pup, eh ako nakatira malapit sa pureza station, kay amy pinasasagot sya na survey sa kin regarding sa LRT/MRT... :D

i knew someone kase na ganun course nya pup, eh ako nakatira malapit sa pureza station, kay amy pinasasagot sya na survey sa kin regarding sa LRT/MRT... :D

under what college yun? engineering? seems interesting...

MRT 3 quake-proof, commuters assured


Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT 3) general manager Roberto Lastimoso said yesterday the EDSA-based railway system’s structures are earthquake-proof, allaying fears of passengers in the wake of the temblors that rocked Asia over the weekend.


The railway system’s structures are designed to withstand earthquakes, Lastimoso stressed, as mandated by the project’s engineers, builders and financiers.

Aside from this, Lastimoso said, MRT personnel – specifically security guards – are continuously undergoing drills not only against temblors but also fires and other natural and man-made catastrophes and emergencies.

All MRT 3 stations, he added, have evacuation plans that are posted in strategic locations.

An average of 430,000 passengers ride the MRT 3 daily from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. (JC Bello Ruiz)

http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/05/30/MTNN2006053065475.html
Perhaps they meant earthquake resistant. There's no such thing as earthquake proof. There's a big difference.

may article kanina sa inquirer libre.. (d ako nakakuha..) tungkol sa G-Pass... ang galing... bibili ka ng chip yata (parang chips sa casino.. na may G na nakasulat)... tapos basta may load ung g-cash mo.., game ka na. :) parang stored value rin siya... pero reloadable xa... ang galing... talaga.. :) basta globe.. posible.. (proud globe?) hehehe... sana sumunod na LRT2... para masaya.. :)

the only article about G-Pass i found on the web... it'll give you a lil idea on it...

http://technobiography.edongskey.com/m-commerce/g-pass-use-your-cellphone-to-enter-the-mrt/

G-Pass: Use your Cellphone to Enter the MRT

Finally, some indication of how the MRT will enable commuters to use their cellphones to enter the MRT stations.

The MRT ticketing system is up for a technology upgrade that will allow commuters to reload their MRT tickets using their cellphone. So says an article in the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) special section on Sunday Bulletin (July 23) describing an initiative from Globe, Globe Xchange Inc. (GXI, subsidiary that handles everything about G-Cash) and the MRT.

The new system, dubbed “G-Pass” has a chip that will be tapped on a sensor during entry and exit. Commuters can avail of the G-Pass chip inclusive of P50 pre-paid MRT fare. The G-Pass chip can then be reloaded using G-Cash.

Other features include G-Pass chip balance inquiry, SMS alerts for each G-Pass transaction and low-balance and reloading reminders. E.g. “Wala ka nang G-Pass load, baka mapilitan kang pumila, ma-reload ka na using G-Cash!”
The chip probably uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology (the article doesn’t describe this part of the ticketing system).

What’s cool: No need to line up to buy MRT tickets. The G-Pass is reusable.
What’s not cool:

You need to register the G-Pass via your cellphone
You need to activate the G-Pass at G-Pass reloading booths in the MRT stations.
I’m getting the impression that G-Cash is just one of the ways to reload the G-Pass. I have a feeling the G-Pass can actually be reloaded via over-the-counter cash. If so, it boils down to still having to queue at a G-Pass reloading booth to get additional load.
It’s all good. I’m looking forward to trying out this G-Pass.

Given that I have limited information about the service, I can’t help but think of a couple of ways to improve the service.

Remove the need to activate the G-Pass chip
Remove the need to queue at a reloading booth to reload the G-Pass chip.
The MRT sensors should be able to conduct two kinds of transactions: debit (takes fare from your G-Pass chip) and credit (reloads your G-Pass chip). This should eliminate the need for a reloading booth because the sensors can reload your G-Pass chip when you enter or exit the MRT station.
Any G-Cash subscriber should be able to reload any other G-Pass chip. I have a G-Cash account and I could re-load my officemate’s G-Pass chip.
To Globe, GXI, MRT: Goodluck! Hope this technology will truly help shorten long queues of commuters buying MRT tickets.

Yes... For that mag-goglobe na ako! Sana naman madali na talaga para hindi na ako pumila. Gee, ang hirap kaya sumakay sa MRT noh. Laging ang haba ng pila

There'a already a G-Pass booth at Buendia station. I wasn't able to check it out since I was already inside the paid-area when I saw it. Siguro tomorrow na lang... :)

I really wish that you could reload your G-Pass credit over-the-counter because I don't wanna switch to Globe just for this.

kailangan daw na naka globe ka... kelangan kasi through G cash ang reload... :)

actually ang mali diyan ng globe.. (dapat pa nilang gawin) na mas-accesible ang reload ng G-cash tulad lang ng pag autoload max...

Yes... For that mag-goglobe na ako! Sana naman madali na talaga para hindi na ako pumila. Gee, ang hirap kaya sumakay sa MRT noh. Laging ang haba ng pila

oo nga... kahit minsan lang ako sumakay sa mrt3 grabe ang pila... lalo na sa may cubao... dba meron namang stored value?

teka..., speaking of stored value... eto ung bagong design ng stored value ng lrt2... NOTE: WALANG MUKHA NG PULITIKO!

http://i7.tinypic.com/21a045x.jpg

a big congrats to lrta!

under what college yun? engineering? seems interesting...

i think it is... tapos they team upwith la salle kase the yhav that kind of course rin...

actually.., weird thing is.., nasa college of tourism, hotel and restaurant management. :) dunno why.. (kung hindi aq nagkakamali...) kasi nandun sila sa building ng tourism eh... engineering has their own building... :)
d ko ma-gets kung bat doon yun...? hehehe... weird talaga ng skul namen..

yep meron na nga sa MRT buendia station i passed by it last friday afternoon.. i just didnt have the time to look at investigate.. hehe..

but this is very very welcome news.. hopefully the technology would be implemented on all lrt lines and for all mobile subscribers not just globe.. sayang ang technology!

taken from philstar.com.. this is very disturbing..

MRT-3 in dire need of new trains
DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco
The Philippine Star 07/31/2006

This is what Ate Glue had to say about the mass transportation system in Metro Manila… our MRT and LRT.

"Pagdurugtungin natin ang MRT at LRT mula Monumento hanggang North EDSA upang mabuo ang biyahe paikot sa Kamaynilaan, at maibsan ang trapik. We will also extend the LRT to Bacoor. We will construct the Northrail to Clark and the Southrail to Lucena and on to Bicol, and upgrade the link between them. Sa pagbilis ng biyahe patungo at palabaas ng Metro Manila, makakatira ang manggagawa sa mas mura at maaliwalas na lalawigan."

Great words. Great promises. I am with Ate Glue in this dream for an efficient mass transport system for the National Capital Region. We certainly can function better if we had one. But what Ate Glue said in her State of the Nation Address is not the current state of our mass transport system. What she said is what it should be and there is no argument with her on that score.

But, here is the reality that she should have also addressed. According to Metro Rail Transit Authority general manager Roberto Lastimoso, MRT line 3 might collapse by 2010 if the rail system continues to operate beyond its capacity. He revealed that the MRT-3 system and facilities are fast depreciating as a result of carrying daily at least 50,000 passengers more than the current 350,000-passenger capacity of the system. It is projected that by 2010, the number of passengers will reach 700,000 daily.

So, there you have it. The reality is that whatever semblance of a mass transit system we do have now, is in grave danger of falling apart because it is overused. It just goes to show how much we need it. Even as Ate Glue talks of expanding it to connect to Balintawak, our MRT 3 is already in danger of collapse, according to the government bureaucrat in charge of running it.

In fact, news stories tell us, MRT 3 officials have been talking to Austria about the possibility of getting a donation of second hand trains for the MRT 3. Austria agreed to donate 16 secondhand light-rail trains to help the government address the problem. Unfortunately, the design of the trains was incompatible with the MRT-3 system since these had outward-folding doors (which would hit the stations’ platforms), a level of flooring lower than the MRT-3 platform, and heaters instead of air-conditioners.

Still, to make the most out of the situation, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Federal Ministry of Transportation Innovation and Technology of Austria decided to sign a memorandum of agreement on "technology transfer." Austrian engineers and technicians will be coming over to help form a technical working group that will determine alternative ways that Austria can improve the country’s railway system.

Obviously, government will have to invest on new rail cars for MRT 3 to meet the growing demand for the service. This is obvious. Every MRT train I see is packed with people during almost all times of the day. How come Ate Glue said nothing about maintaining and upgrading the service of the mass transit system we do have? I guess it is because upgrading an existing system is not as sexy as announcing a totally brand new system. But it must be done.

Can we have an updated SONA that takes into account the present state and not just the dream ideal situation? Ate Glue is running a country and getting the less sexy tasks done is part of the package of things she signed up to do.

its true mrt3 trains are looking haggard. Man the wear and tear is quick. Just three years ago they still looked sparkling new.

I suggest they raise the prices. If Demand is that high and the government is still subsidizing it, then raise prices and use the new revenue to either stop subsidizing it or use the money to buy new train sets.

may tv AD na ito.. just saw it last weekend..

kailangan daw na naka globe ka... kelangan kasi through G cash ang reload... :)

actually ang mali diyan ng globe.. (dapat pa nilang gawin) na mas-accesible ang reload ng G-cash tulad lang ng pag autoload max...

Di naman pala kailangan talaga Globe Subscriber. You just need a Globe number to register (you can borrow one) then you can reload over the counter after. Currently, Ayala - Cubao stations have active readers.

I don't know what they were thinking but the G-Pass is shaped like a casino chip. Is it a cost cutting move that's why they didn't make it a full-sized card? Or they think people are stupid that they will try to insert the card into the magnetic reader instead of just tapping it on the RFID reader. :ohno:

In fact, news stories tell us, MRT 3 officials have been talking to Austria about the possibility of getting a donation of second hand trains for the MRT 3. Austria agreed to donate 16 secondhand light-rail trains to help the government address the problem. Unfortunately, the design of the trains was incompatible with the MRT-3 system since these had outward-folding doors (which would hit the stations’ platforms), a level of flooring lower than the MRT-3 platform, and heaters instead of air-conditioners.



That's so sad it's funny :D

oo nga... kahit minsan lang ako sumakay sa mrt3 grabe ang pila... lalo na sa may cubao... dba meron namang stored value?

teka..., speaking of stored value... eto ung bagong design ng stored value ng lrt2... NOTE: WALANG MUKHA NG PULITIKO!

http://i7.tinypic.com/21a045x.jpg

a big congrats to lrta!

Hindi ko alam yung sa LRT but for the MRT puro ads na lang. OR minsan yung route lang yung nilalagay. Oh my, that's a very nice move!

Di naman pala kailangan talaga Globe Subscriber. You just need a Globe number to register (you can borrow one) then you can reload over the counter after. Currently, Ayala - Cubao stations have active readers.

I don't know what they were thinking but the G-Pass is shaped like a casino chip. Is it a cost cutting move that's why they didn't make it a full-sized card? Or they think people are stupid that they will try to insert the card into the magnetic reader instead of just tapping it on the RFID reader. :ohno:


Nyek. The problem is the long qeues that commuters have to bear with everyday. Tapos pipila pa rin pala. Gee, pero infairness makakatulong ito if the LRT and MRT would have insufficient no. of tickets

why casino chip shaped g-pass? (sorry kasi di pa ako nakakita nun) kung matigas yung pagkakagawa, puwede mo siya i singit sa housing ng phone mo or sa wallet mo, or any article that you could slide over the reader/sensor, hmmmm, meron bang sticker type na g-pass chip? para ikakabit na lang sa likod ng watch, and i slide ko lang watch ko sa reader, voila! mas madali! hehehe

If it is going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna, where is it passing through? Pililla or Talim Island?

nope, i dont think so, according to wikipedia:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Light_Rail_Transit_System
MRT-8, or the East Rail Line, is a proposed 48-kilometer line crossing through Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna and Rizal. Several tunnel sections between the municipalities of Pililla in Rizal and Santa Cruz in Laguna would be built in the process. Phase I of the line would begin in Santa Mesa in Manila and end in Angono in Rizal, and would consist of 16.8 kilometers of elevated track, following the general alignment of Shaw Boulevard and Ortigas Avenue.

so kung dadaan ng pililia going to sta cruz, more or less its going to follow the black line i placed on the map below

http://org32.zorpia.com/0/2133/13655025.332d86.jpg

however, in my opinion, instead of passing through pililia to sta cruz which are less attractive to be serviced compared to west laguna and west rizal, they should instead make it pass through talim island (from sta mesa to angono to talim accross the lake) going to LB (red line) to service students/visitors to institutions in the Sci-Nature City, and maybe to boost my ego and kakapalan ng mukha as well :weirdo: :jk: :runaway: , by the way it is really possible to have a very long bridge through laguna de bay since its relatively shallow (actually, its very shallow and, due to more sedimentation, is expected soon to shrink into dry land)

pero if they want more people to ride MRT8, they should instead make a loop (yellow line in my map) through angono to calamba going back to manila...

_____________________________________________________

BTW guys! i found this in Wikipedia!!!!! finally a full map of proposed MRT/SRT system!

http://org32.zorpia.com/0/2133/13654589.f77080.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/MetroManilaComplete.JPG

4 firms eye bid in LRT expansion
By Sandy Araneta
The Philippine Star 08/01/2006

Four foreign companies have signified their intention to bid for the capacity expansion project of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, an offical said yesterday. LRT Authority administrator Melquiades Robles said formal letters of intent have been submitted by investors from Japan, an Indian-American group, and two companies from Spain.

"In fact some of them are even suggesting improvements. We are looking at the terms of reference. We would like to get the best offer for the government. Improvements were suggested by the Indian-American group, a consortium," Robles said.Potential bidders are looking for a beneficial arrangement that could be made between the two parties, he pointed out.

"The idea is that whoever builds an extension gets to operate the entire line. This will require a counterpart from the government, especially the right of way of civil works. That’s the part of the government. The private group would bring in the electro-mechanical system," said Robles.

Another suggestion was that once a company gets to operate a line, they would pay the LRTA a concession fee.Once civil works are done by the private company, they would ask to lower the concession fee that would be paid to LRTA.

However, Robles said all of these suggestions would have to be approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)."These are some of the suggestions which we are all taking in. What will the government’s exposure be? These are all being weighed. This will all have to be brought before NEDA. It will have to scrutinize the proposals," Robles said.

Meanwhile, LRT Line 1 will soon have 12 new four-car trains, starting this September until March of next year, as part of the capacity expansion project of the the LRTA.The additional trains cost P9 billion."The capacity expansion is well underway. In fact, more than 50 percent of expansion has been completed. The first train is coming not later than September," Robles said.

He revealed that the LRT will have a third generation train. Robles said that by March 2007, the LRTA will have an all new set of 12 trains, with four-cars each. "This is very timely because when you stretch the line, you need more trains. Otherwise, your headway will take longer. Therefore you defeat the purpose of providing a fast and efficient means of transportation," he expained.

LRT Line 1 travels from Baclaran to Monumento.The trains will come from Japan and will be financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Apart from the 12 trains, the P9-billion project will include improvement of tracks, signaling system, operations and control center, as well as other comprehensive improvements for LRT Line 1. Robles said that after additional trains and the improvement of the signaling system, they will work on the expansion of the railway.

Is that proposed masterplan for the urban railway network for Metro Manila the latest version? If so, how come it became smaller?

*sigh*

if i only had bill gates or henry sy level money i would start building all those LRT/MRT lines already..

BTW guys! i found this in Wikipedia!!!!! finally a full map of proposed MRT/SRT system!

http://org32.zorpia.com/0/2133/13654589.f77080.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/MetroManilaComplete.JPG[/QUOTE]

I think this map is old. I've heard from the previous posts that the circular orange line(Northrail) would not push through or would not be a subway anymore. That's what I understood. Anyway, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Four foreign companies have signified their intention to bid for the capacity expansion project of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, an offical said yesterday.

LRT Authority administrator Melquiades Robles said formal letters of intent have been submitted by investors from Japan, an Indian-American group, and two companies from Spain.

"In fact some of them are even suggesting improvements. We are looking at the terms of reference. We would like to get the best offer for the government. Improvements were suggested by the Indian-American group, a consortium," Robles said.

Potential bidders are looking for a beneficial arrangement that could be made between the two parties, he pointed out.

"The idea is that whoever builds an extension gets to operate the entire line. This will require a counterpart from the government, especially the right of way of civil works. That’s the part of the government. The private group would bring in the electro-mechanical system," said Robles.

Another suggestion was that once a company gets to operate a line, they would pay the LRTA a concession fee.

Once civil works are done by the private company, they would ask to lower the concession fee that would be paid to LRTA.

However, Robles said all of these suggestions would have to be approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

"These are some of the suggestions which we are all taking in. What will the government’s exposure be? These are all being weighed. This will all have to be brought before NEDA. It will have to scrutinize the proposals," Robles said.

Meanwhile, LRT Line 1 will soon have 12 new four-car trains, starting this September until March of next year, as part of the capacity expansion project of the the LRTA.

The additional trains cost P9 billion.

"The capacity expansion is well underway. In fact, more than 50 percent of expansion has been completed. The first train is coming not later than September," Robles said.

He revealed that the LRT will have a third generation train.

Robles said that by March 2007, the LRTA will have an all new set of 12 trains, with four-cars each.

"This is very timely because when you stretch the line, you need more trains. Otherwise, your headway will take longer. Therefore you defeat the purpose of providing a fast and efficient means of transportation," he expained.

LRT Line 1 travels from Baclaran to Monumento.

The trains will come from Japan and will be financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Apart from the 12 trains, the P9-billion project will include improvement of tracks, signaling system, operations and control center, as well as other comprehensive improvements for LRT Line 1.

Robles said that after additional trains and the improvement of the signaling system, they will work on the expansion of the railway.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608016305.htm

Is it me or is anyone else seeing the same posts again and again. Yup that's an older map, we posted that a few months back just to show who the system may look but the orange line is still very much in doubt (no neda icc review) and shares part of the line with pnr lines. Norht rail has actually stated the line to fort boni is part of their plans. Line 4 (shown there as the green line ) has alignement issues with line 7. which starts from sm city.

Bidder offers to fund entire
LRT-1 extension project

By Lenie Lectura
Reporter

ONE of the four groups interested to bid for the $600-million extension project of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) is proposing that it finance the entire project, including civil works, so that it would pay government smaller concession fees.

LRTA administrator Mel Robles said the Indian-American group proposed this. “They suggested some improvements in the terms of reference (TOR). Whoever builds the extension gets to operate the entire line.”

Aside from the Indian-American group, the other interested bidders are two firms from Spain and one from Japan.

The extension project will connect existing LRT Line 1 to Bacoor, Cavite. Once in place, some 800,000 passengers would be served daily and cut travel time from Bacoor, Cavite, to Monumento, Caloocan City, to less than an hour.

The government will provide half of the cost to cover the civil works and right-of-way expenses. The other half will be shouldered by a foreign firm which will take care of the electromechanical system.

Robles said the Indian-American bidder wants to undertake the entire project. “If that is the case then the concession fee will also shrink,” said the LRTA official.

Robles added that the proposal was already submitted to the International Finance Corp. (IFC), the financial adviser of the LRTA for the LRT Line 1 South Extension project.

IFC is the private-sector lending arm of the World Bank.

“We forwarded to the IFC the suggestion of one of the prospective bidders. I guess it is up to them now. Of course, we favor the one that would have least exposure to the government,” said Robles.

Once the TOR is finalized, the next step would be to have the technical, financial plans and concession agreement approved.

The government received an unsolicited offer from SNC Lavalin International Inc. more than five years ago to undertake the project but did not pursue it because the offer was too expensive.

SNC Lavalin had asked government to repay them $20 million which represented the cost for the feasibility study and development plans. The government, which later settled for $10 million, paid $5 million last year.

The Department of Budget and Management has recently released to the LRTA $4-million payment to SNC Lavalin, representing the balance of the settlement agreement between the LRTA and SNC Lavalin.

Meanwhile, Robles announced the start of the delivery of the 12 new air-conditioned four-car trains, or an additional 48 light rail vehicles, aimed at expanding the passenger capacity of Line 1, which spans from Baclaran in Parañaque City to Monumento in Caloocan City.

“The first batch of trains will be delivered in September. The rest will be delivered until March of next year,” he said.

After all the trains would have been delivered, the LRTA will have a total of more than 90 light rail vehicles. These trains, he said, are all brand-new and will move an average of 40,000 passengers per hour compared with the current capacity of 27,000 passengers per hour, per direction.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation Agency (JBIC) helped LRTA finance the new trains which cost about P9 billion.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/eco01.php

Is it me or is anyone else seeing the same posts again and again. Yup that's an older map, we posted that a few months back just to show who the system may look but the orange line is still very much in doubt (no neda icc review) and shares part of the line with pnr lines. Norht rail has actually stated the line to fort boni is part of their plans. Line 4 (shown there as the green line ) has alignement issues with line 7. which starts from sm city.

no, its not just you.. i also see the same posts and articles again and again

when will mrt6 be finished?

By JC BELLO RUIZ

The first batch of 12 new four-car trains will be delivered to the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) starting September for the R9-billion capacity expansion (CAPEX) project of the Monumento-Baclaran line of the mass transport system.

LRTA Administrator Melquiades Robles said the CAPEX project of Line 1 of the LRTA is halfway through and will be boosted with the arrival of the trains in batches starting September this year to March next year.

The signaling system on the railway system, he said, will also be improved in the CAPEX project, financed through a loan with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

"The capacity expansion is well under way. In fact more than 50 percent (of the project) has been completed. The first train is arriving not later than September. By March, we will have an all new set of 12 trains, with four coaches each," Robles said.

The trains, according to Robles, include "smart-looking" third generation units.

The LRTA chief said the completion of the CAPEX project is a vital part of the preparations for the expansion of Line 1 up to Bacoor, Cavite.

"This is very timely because when you stretch the line, of course you need more trains. Otherwise, your headway will take longer. Therefore, you defeat the purpose of providing a fast and efficient means of transportation," Robles said.

Robles said the expansion project of Line 1 to Bacoor, Cavite, which was mentioned by President Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address (SoNA) last week, has four interested bidders that have submitted formal letters of intent.

The groups include one Japanese firm, an Indian-American group, and two Spanish groups.

"Some of them are even suggesting improvements. We are looking at the terms of reference. We would like to get the best offer for the government," Robles said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/08/02/MTNN2006080270717.html

By NIEL V. MUGAS
The Manila Times Reporter

A number of Spanish firms have expressed interest in the construction of major railway projects in the Philippines, including the extension of the country’s first overhead railway, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Their interest was expressed during the recent visit of Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila to Spain.

The firms include Isoluz-Corsan, Pro-Intec and Dimetronics, which the DTI said, are eyeing the proposed extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 from Baclaran to Cavite.

Pro-Intec, for one, is said to have committed securing from the Spanish government some 800,000 euros (approximately $1.025 million) for a technical grant for the LRT I and LRT Line 2 expansion projects.

Dimetronics is said to be interested in the supply contracts for signaling equipment for the same two projects, while Spain’s national railway operator Red Nacional de los Ferro-carriles Españoles (RENFE), expressed interest in the Iligan-Cagayan de Oro railway project, for which it is ready to spend 100,000 euros for the feasibility study alone.

RENFE is also interested in the NorthRail project.

Soluziona is eyeing the NorthRail project, and is exploring a partnership with the SM Group of Companies for an integrated property development complex.

Spanish railroad construction firm Construccion Y Auxilliar De Ferrocarles (CAF), meantime, is looking at 33 million euros worth of funds for the Philippines’ railway systems.

Pro-Intec is also interested in build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects, such as the Laguindingan Airport and Mindanao Airport Development Project in Cagayan de Oro. The Spanish firm will provide a technical study grant for an agricultural and industrial project in the Cagayan Export Zone Authority. It is also proposing a technical study grant for the fabrication of oil drilling equipment in Subic.

Burgundy Global Asset Management Corp., meantime, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Spain’s second-largest bank, for a 250 million euro credit line for BOT projects it is planning in the Philippines such as hotels and resort development projects, and the development of Port Irene in Cagayan.

The company also has oil and gas interests in the Northeast and Southeast Palawan. It also participated in the bidding for the Camago-Malampaya Oil Leg.

Lastly, Winace Holdings Philippines Inc. signed a joint declaration with BBVA for the conclusion of an agreement for a credit line of 280 million euros for infrastructure and energy projects.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=43906

sorry guys for reposting that image, hahaha...

thats good news about spanish investors... most of the investors in the philippines are either japanese or chinese

^^ Yup! :yes:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/08-03-2006/lrt.jpg

By DARWIN G. AMOJELAR, The Manila Times Reporter

The Light Rail Transit Authority considers a private initiative to fund the LRT 2 southward and eastward extension project with two groups of local investors expressing interest in providing financial muscle.

Mel Robles, LRTA general manager, said the two groups of local investors interested in funding the LRT 2 extension project have presented a loan program lower than the proposal of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

"The local groups said it could be done for P6 billion," Robles said.

The government of Japan had offered a loan of P9 billion that carried with it a 2-percent interest for three packages payable in 30 years with a 10-year grace period.

The 13.8-kilometer LRT 2 railway that runs from Santolan in Pasig City to Recto Station in Santa Cruz, Manila, was funded by JBIC.

The LRT 2 extension project involves the construction of a 4-kilometer eastern extension from the Santolan Station in Marikina City to Masinag Junction in Antipolo, Rizal.

Robles has suggested to also expand the project westward up to North Harbor, not just eastward. "We would ask the proponent to bid on the basis of extending it eastward to Masinag and another extension going toward Divisoria and North Harbor," he told reporters.

The proposed east extension of the three stations includes Rodriguez Avenue, Imelda Avenue and Sumulong Highway, which will benefit the fast-growing communities of Marikina, Cainta and Antipolo.

The LRTA also plans the south extension of the 11.7-kilometer LRT 1 toward the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas and the neighboring municipalities of Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas in the Cavite province.

Danilo S. Tolentino, LRTA project manager, said discussions are being initiated with PEA for the possible transfer or donation of properties owned by PEA to LRTA for use in the LRT Line 1 South Extension project.

He added that the project’s bid tender will be in October this year with subsequent evaluation by the end of second quarter of 2007.

Robles said four foreign companies have expressed intentions to submit bid proposals to finance the design, construction, supply, operation and maintenance of the project under Build-Operate-Transfer Law.

He said the foreign firms include a Japanese construction firm, an Indian-American joint venture and two Spanish firms.

The extension is expected to serve some 800,000 passengers a day and cut travel time from Bacoor, Cavite, to Monumento, Caloocan City, to less than an hour.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=46399

thank god....:) at last may news about the LRT2 east extension... i dont have to pass through traffic areas in marcos highway... :) kaso ang layo naman ng gap ng sta.lucia-masinag... at ang lapit maxado ng ligaya(rodriguez ave)-santolan... weird...

the original plan was to have 3 stations in sta.lucia, samsonville and masinag... siguro they considered ligaya kasi sobrang traffic doon pag umaga...

the article mentions a whole new line that will interconnect domestic-naia1-naia2-naia3

LRT’s east-west expansion pushed
By Florante S. Solmerin


THE commuter train network has mapped out plans to extend lines to stretch from Marikina Valley up to North Harbor and branch out to other sections of Metro Manila to solve its traffic conundrum.

Administrator Mel Robles of the Light Rail Transit Authority said the concept includes Line 2 toward Masinag in Marikina and westward to Divisoria and the pier.

“I suggested an expansion westward not [only] eastward up to North Harbor. We would ask the proponent to bid on the basis of extending it eastward to Masinag and another extension going Divisoria and North Harbor. Four km to the east and 2 km to the west,” he stressed.

Robles intimated that his agency is eyeing an interconnection with the three terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“It is on the concept stage. It is very feasible. In fact in our plan, it can connect all four airports—domestic, Naia-1, Naia-2 and even Naia-3. There could be a whole new line, from end to end,” he added.

He said the Line 2 extensions have prefeasibility studies and figures made by the consultants. “No cost yet. The Japanese offer was P9 billion. Local groups said it could be done P6 billion for the east extension. Two groups have expressed interest.”

The final approval of the projects will be at the National Economic Development Authority after Robles and his board give their go-signal.

“We could get a grant, or LRTA will finance it,” he clarified when asked how the expansions would be bankrolled.

In terms of decongesting Metro Manila and in terms of reliability, he believes the train is the way to go.

“Just imagine how many cars go to the airport, those well-wishers who go to the airport. Use the train. There will be no traffic. It is better for you to use the train,” he said.

In this particular plan, Robles said the LRTA has passed the concept stage.

“All we have to do now is to go the prefeasibility, feasibility. What is good is that in the concept stage, it looks very encouraging. You could even use only a single track. There is not much electro-mechanical to be done. You could even just assign one train for the whole line at the airport,” he explained.

Without the Naia-3 link, Robles placed the cost at about $60 million. Terminal 3 will require an underground tunnel in the study.

“We will use our existing expatriates, existing consultants of LRTA. In this concept, who will build it, private, Manila International Airport Authority, LRTA, we don’t know yet. It is important there is a desire, you have the concept, then you move to prefeasibility, feasibility, and then you go to the commercial,” he pointed out.

He said LRTA only made the conceptualization, with the prodding of MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi.

“The benefit in the project is that just like in foreign countries their airports have railway system. MIAA could go into funding. They cannot do the operations. Operations most logical would be the LRTA, or if they have a private operator. Next is the franchise of operating that would be most likely LRTA. It is not yet known when this will be started building,” Robles said.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police01_aug03_2006

^^ lahat nyan possible, like ung ibang lines may mga plans na talaga, budget lng ung kulang kaya di matuloy tuloy, minsan sobrang delayed lng talaga, like ung lrt d jose extension matagal na na plan yun pero matagal rin sinimulan at dapat tapos na yun nung june pa pero hanggang ngayon di pa tapos...

ano bang mangyayari sa d jose? tagal ko nang nakitang ginagawa yun ah... ano ba idadagdag? minsan lang ako makadaan dun eh...

Alam ko dapat tapos na iyon. Feeling ko mabagal na lang talaga sila dahil continous yung operation nung train habang nirerenovate. At hindi dahil walang funds. Kasi dapat may naka-set aside na funds na yan eh.

will they renovate all the lrt1 stations? or ung d jose lang...? makadaan nga diyan minsan... :)

sana gawin din nila katulad ng lrt2 stations... hehehe... i hope... :)

that is the best LRT/MRT plan i heard so far - the line connecting all 3 airports to the metropolis. and...there should be a dedicated line from the international terminals - to let's say Makati, Ortigas, Manila and Quezon City, and even FBGC. Most tourists and balikbayans would find them useful. No matter how often i go to the airport (commuting) di ko pa rin maisip how would i go there just in case I am driving my own (far from reality, hey, wake up...:D)

Anyway, rail line from airport to the metropolis is really very useful. THIS SHOULD BE PUSHED THRU. look at Shanghai with a maglev to the City, HK have Airport Express which connects HK island to the far far away International Airport in just 28 minutes. Kaso nga lang mahal ($100 ata). Although a bus from the airport is worth half of it pero twice travel time. Pero it's definitely worth the price. Kung maningil man ng mahal dito sa Pinas, lang basta ok ang service.

But wait, a line connecting each of the terminals will be useless imo unless that line would connect them to the metropolis. Sigh...Let's wait for 5 years pa para mag materialize ito. Let's be positive tho. This should be easier, kasi walang natural barriers like mountain or seas na dadaanan ang linya. An overhead monorail would be very feasible. Let's say daan ng domestic, then Naia 1, 2, 3, then traverse SLEX, stop sa FBGC, then Ayala, then Ortigas, then Cubao, then Roxas Blvd, then back to the airport! Yahoo, makapag joy ride kaya. Dapat me mga ticket na one day ride-all-you-can at let's say Php500. At me Octopus Card din na pede gamitin sa lahat ng lines. Wish muna tayo at this point. :D

All excellent news.

I like this robles guy, not flashy (in fact was not impressed by his interview) but actions speak louder than words and he seems to be quite effective! :bow:

interesting concept with the new airport line, but naunahan na natin sila dito sa ssc phil :nocrook: if you look at a few posts (well quite a few :) ) you'll see some of us talk about this when they mentioned extending the lrt1 line line from the depot to the airport!!! A good idea but now made better with the addition of more stops in the terminals. I hope this pushes through sooner. unfortunately wala man lang pre feasibility so medyo matagal pa but patience is a virtue.

With regards to LRT2 extending both ways, well whats taking you so long, hehe (patience is a virtue...that I unforutanately do not have :tongue3: ), matagal na natin inaantay yan.

Now what's going to happen to the new trains in mrt 3 and how bout some more new lines!!! :baaa:

sana new lines will be underground. kung bangkok nga may flooding problems tulad dito sa manila eh nakagawa pa rin sila ng subway

^^ flooding is not the main reason, its money...

^^ Yup! :yes:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/08-03-2006/lrt.jpg

By DARWIN G. AMOJELAR, The Manila Times Reporter

The Light Rail Transit Authority considers a private initiative to fund the LRT 2 southward and eastward extension project with two groups of local investors expressing interest in providing financial muscle.

Robles has suggested to also expand the project westward up to North Harbor, not just eastward. "We would ask the proponent to bid on the basis of extending it eastward to Masinag and another extension going toward Divisoria and North Harbor," he told reporters.


Hmm....I wonder who is that genius forumer who first strongly advocated extending LRT2 to Divisoria....despite other ppl saying its silly and would be a security nightmare.....a quick review of all the MRT/LRT threads in the past may clearly reveal who... ;)

diba plan talaga nila un nung umpisa pa? to extend it hanggang north harbor? or bago lang ba un?

sana matuloy na ung extension... excited nako.. :) sobra... hehehe... :colgate:

^^ flooding is not the main reason, its money...

And the political red tape... :sleepy:

sana within the next couple of years they would start the LRT link to the airports.. and when the lines are finished, hopefully NAIA-3 has opened already.. hahaha.. unless NAIA-3 would never open.. :P

^^I hope the airport and trains are done before you get your soho unit, then that means when you need to go to the airport you dont even need to get get in a car, of course I mean that mabilis ang airport proj , not na matagal ang unit mo hah :)

Hmm....I wonder who is that genius forumer who first strongly advocated extending LRT2 to Divisoria....despite other ppl saying its silly and would be a security nightmare.....a quick review of all the MRT/LRT threads in the past may clearly reveal who... ;)
hehe mukhang ikay yata iuan ano :scouserd: :cheers:

all I can say if kung matuloy itong stop all the way to north harbor, that train is going to smell ! hehe

http://www.cityrailtransit.com/manila/manila_metro.gif

@bustero - hehehe, i know the projected timeline of my unit.. its the LRT and airport projects which have no definite timeline.. ;)

In fact, news stories tell us, MRT 3 officials have been talking to Austria about the possibility of getting a donation of second hand trains for the MRT 3. Austria agreed to donate 16 secondhand light-rail trains to help the government address the problem. Unfortunately, the design of the trains was incompatible with the MRT-3 system since these had outward-folding doors (which would hit the stations’ platforms), a level of flooring lower than the MRT-3 platform, and heaters instead of air-conditioners.

I'm no civil engineer and I have no idea on how likely the MRT is going to collapse anytime soon. Remember during the Cory days, when the LRT started having cracks at the Central Terminal station area - due to overcapacity? They handled that fine, I think.

The "incompatible" trains though, is comparatively trivial. I don't know why we should make a big deal out of these. Obviously they're going to fit A/Cs and fix the doors and stuff!

LRTA eyes NAIA rail link
By Sandy Araneta
The Philippine Star 08/08/2006

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said yesterday it is studying plans for the development of a railway system within the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) complex.

"The LRT extension to the airport is still at the conceptual stage, but it is very feasible. In fact, in our plan, the project can connect all four airports — domestic, Terminal 1, Centennial Terminal and even NAIA-3. There could be a whole new line, from end to end," LRTA Administrator Melquiades Robles said in an interview.

Robles said the railway link could help decongest Metro Manila. It would also help reduce travel time for passengers and well-wishers going to and from the NAIA complex.

From Monumento to the NAIA complex, estimated travel time by rail is 45 minutes.

The LRTA chief said they have wrapped up the conceptual stage of the plan. and would proceed to pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.

Right now, the concept looks very encouraging, Robles said

He said one of the plans is to use a single-track system and assign one train for the entire line at the airport.

"If NAIA-3 is not included in the link, the cost will only be about US$60 million to build a single-track system," Robles said. "If Terminal 3 is included, this would require an underground tunnel and a higher budget."

He said the LRTA’s expatriate consultants have been have been handling conceptualization of the train system at the NAIA complex.

The LRTA started conceptualizing the NAIA rail system through the prodding of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi.

"In most foreign countries, their airports have railway systems. MIAA, however, would not be able to handle the operations. The most logical choice for operations is the LRTA," he said.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608086304.htm

wow...

so this means.. when i ride a train from monumento... the train could either end at NAIA oR Cavite... wow...

as i can see in my map.., magsiplit before baclaran? ung isa, papuntang naia (through the lrt depot) and ung isa going to cavite.. (ung line 1 extension...)

i hope this would materialize soon... pero kailangan din na lakihan pa lalo ng LRT1 ang capacity nila... kung mangyayari ung plans nila with this line.., it would be more used than the line in EDSA... kasi ung mga taga southern metro and cavite... pati ung mga papunta/galing ng Naia ang gagamit ng line na to... so sobrang siksikan to the max ito... :colgate: ang saya... :)

oonga, yun yung prob. magsisiksikan... yung dala pa nila na bagahe, hahaha, dapat damihan nila yung tren, wag naman yung super, kasi baka matrapik... hehehe, pero minsan kaya sa MRT, traffic yung tren dun, hahaha... ang layu kc ng naia 3 e, pero ok lang, pwede kaya underground na lang yung tren papuntang naia 3 parang dun sa ibang airport... hahaha, wag na, gastos pa...

instead of just tapping it on the RFID reader. :ohno:

I didn't even know they placed RFID readers :P

But since when?

EDIT: Going back though, I'm quite excited about an airport service via rapid transit.

If this goes through (and I hope it does), then it would be an added convenience as it will help decongest travel time to and from the airports due to lesser influx of road vehicles.

I do hope they push through in the creation of a whole new line (and I want that they install Platform Screen Doors too :D ) for our airports (which is in dire need of airport train service)

I'm no civil engineer and I have no idea on how likely the MRT is going to collapse anytime soon. Remember during the Cory days, when the LRT started having cracks at the Central Terminal station area - due to overcapacity? They handled that fine, I think.

The "incompatible" trains though, is comparatively trivial. I don't know why we should make a big deal out of these. Obviously they're going to fit A/Cs and fix the doors and stuff!

I agree! One thing ppl tend to forget is at the end of the day, the MRT is still a rail system and the very nature of such a transit mode is they are a very tough cookie to crack and whatever problems it may have now, its quite easy to fix. The MRT will do just fine and will continue to serve the public well for decades to come. I couldn't imagine how EDSA would be without it.

I guess the trains split like in several systems so you have to watch out which train you ride on. but perhaps their system will make us change trains in baclaran to the one rail line that serves both airports. Too bad it's lrt1 which will serve it, that's a super packed line!

60$million , does not sound big as mass transit goes but does not include terminal 3 yet. hope they can find the money.

Linking LRT to airports ‘very feasible’



By JC BELLO RUIZ

The head of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) supported yesterday the planned linkup of the LRT to Metro Manila’s airports, describing the plan as "very feasible and very encouraging."


LRTA Administrator Melquiades Robles said connecting LRT Line 1, which links Monumento to Baclaran, to domestic and international airports in the metropolis will help decongest the metropolis as well as give airport goers including well-wishers a convenient and faster way of going to the airport.

"Just imagine how many cars go to the airport, those well-wishers who go to the airport. In terms of decongesting Metro Manila and in terms of reliability, we could use the train. There will be no traffic. It is better for you to use the train," he said while pointing out that in other countries, airports have a railway system.

"With this proposal, from Monumento to the airport, (travel time) could only take about 30 to 45 minutes. We could also put up a different fare structure kasi special yan eh. Hindi naman araw-araw nagpupunta sa airport ang mga tao. So, most likely, we could have a different structure for that," he said.

"We have finished the concept stage. Then we go to the pre-feasibility, feasibility. What is good is that in the concept stage, it looks very encouraging," Robles said.

He said the next step now is for LRTA’s consultants to conduct feasibility studies on the proposal. Then the agency would hope to get the nod of the LRTA board of directors and the National Economic and Development Authority.

He said even airlines such as Cebu Pacific have pledged their support to the project.

The plan involves connecting Line 1’s Baclaran station to the Manila Domestic Terminal, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 1 (NAIA-1), NAIA-2, and the still to be opened modern terminal 3.

"It is very feasible. In fact in our plan, it can connect all four airports—domestic, NAIA 1, NAIA 2 and even NAIA 3. There could be a whole new line, from end to end," Robles said.

The proposal has very rosy prospects, Robles said, since the extension could use "only a single track."

It will also be cheaper to build compared to regular rail projects because much of the necessary facilities are already in place, he said. "There is not much electro-mechanical to be done. You could even just assign one train for the whole line at the airport. If NAIA terminal 3 will not be included, the cost will only be about US million only, excluding NAIA Terminal 3," he said. Including NAIA 3 to the plan will require an underground tunnel, he added.

Robles said the LRTA made the conceptualization upon the prodding of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Alfonso Cusi. "In this concept, who will build it, private, MIAA, LRTA, we don’t know yet. It is important there is a desire, you have the concept, then you move to pre-feasibility, feasibility, and then you go to the commercial," he said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006080971339.html

hmmm sounds the same , sana they added a timetable!

..........
He said even airlines such as Cebu Pacific have pledged their support to the project.
..............



sa lahat ng airlines., mukhang cebu pacific ang may malaking benifit dito...
mas madami nang kakagat sa mga promo nila dahil sobrang dali na pumunta ng airport... :)

im guessing we wait till 2008 before any construction on this starts.. haaay..

LRT South revival possible

By Rommer M. Balaba
Reporter

AN updated proposal for the long-delayed Light Rail Transit South Extension project may be submitted to the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) soon for consideration and eventual implementation, a senior official of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said.

“It [the new proposal] is ready for ICC submission after the initial contract with SNC-Lavalin International Inc. was cancelled for supposedly being expensive. . . .and not undergoing the bidding process,” Ruben S. Reinoso Jr., who is also executive director of the Infracom secretariat, said in an interview.

He, however, did not divulge specifics of the updated proposal.

The 11.7-kilometer, eight-station LRT south extension project will supplement the existing LRT Line 1 by providing rail transport to up to 500,000 commuters bound for Parañaque, Las Piñas and three Cavite towns—Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas—on its initial year of operations. It will also have three intermodal transport facilities for buses, jeepneys, taxis and Asian utility vehicles.

The Infracom, headed by Neda director general Romulo L. Neri, validates all infrastructure projects, whether solicited and unsolicited. From being an unsolicited proposal, the LRT south extension was transformed into a solicited one early this year for the government to tap cheaper money such as overseas development assistance (ODA) to fund its construction.

ODA loans have interests of 1 percent to 3 percent annually as against commercial rates of 5 percent to 6 percent per year used for funding unsolicited projects.

It is now estimated to cost $650 million after its transformation into a solicited project compared with the $841.48 million that the French-Canadian engineering and construction firm earlier claimed. This was also one of the reasons why the government cancelled the contract. The World Bank, through its investment arm International Finance Corp., has expressed willingness to finance the project.

“Of course the government has to pay Lavalin for the initial works it had undertaken such as preliminary designs, traffic projection, the alignment study as well as right-of-way. But then we also say there was really no competition or bidding when Lavalin was a joint venture partner, which is contrary to procedures,” Reinoso said.


http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/sfp01.php

ano bang mangyayari sa d jose? tagal ko nang nakitang ginagawa yun ah... ano ba idadagdag? minsan lang ako makadaan dun eh...

will they renovate all the lrt1 stations? or ung d jose lang...? makadaan nga diyan minsan...

sana gawin din nila katulad ng lrt2 stations... hehehe... i hope...

sabi ng kuya ko eextend lng daw yun para sa mga pasahero... kase diba may skyway/ footbridge mula lrt2 recto station pa lrt1 d jose station, parang coconect nila yun... ewan ko lng kung lahat ng station aayusin nila...


Alam ko dapat tapos na iyon. Feeling ko mabagal na lang talaga sila dahil continous yung operation nung train habang nirerenovate. At hindi dahil walang funds. Kasi dapat may naka-set aside na funds na yan eh.

haha... natatawa nga ko sa kuya ko lagi na madaling araw umuuwi, reason nya lagi overtime sa site daw... ewa ko lng baka sa ibang bahay na natutulog... :lol:

sa bagay malaki laki na rin ang nagagastos nila sa d jose, kung wala talagang funds na stop na sana yun...:D

taken from inq7. net..

MRT-7 project gets a move-on

By Riza T. Olchondra
Inquirer
Last updated 03:18am (Mla time) 08/18/2006

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordinating Committee has cleared the draft contract for a proposed new line of Manila's overhead Metro Rail Transit (MRT) after the project proponent, Universal LRT Corp. Ltd., agreed to make the construction and operation "deficit-neutral," Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri said.

The "deficit-neutral" clause is meant to ensure that the government will not bear the brunt of the risks that may be encountered in the construction of the project, called MRT-7, said Neri, director-general of the NEDA.

Where the railway will run through, Universal LRT, as operator, will pay real estate taxes to the local government units, he added.

MRT-7 is to run the length of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, connecting North Avenue to the Tala area in the Novaliches district of Quezon City.

With the NEDA clearance in place, the Department of Transportation and Communications may publish an invitation for challengers to submit their own proposals, Neri said.

Universal LRT has bid $1.2 billion for the project and 25-year concession. If there will be no challengers for certain period after an invitation is made, the government will finalize a contract with the original proponent.

Universal LRT is a consortium comprising Alstom Transportation of France, which is described as the world's second-largest transportation system provider; Alstom Signalling of the United States; Redfort Assets Ltd, representing SM Investment Corp. and PentaCapital Management Corp., the Merlin Pacific Capital Inc. group; Earth Tech, a unit of the Tyco International Group of the US; Engineering Equipment Inc. of the Yuchengo
group of companies; tcgi Engineers; EL International Holdings Group; and a group of Israeli investors.

Under the proposed contract, the government will advance to Universal LRT $130 million for 10 years -- from the start of the railway construction -- $15 million for the 11th until the 15th year, and $10 million for the 16th up to the 18th year.

These advances will return to government coffers after MRT-7 begins operations, Neri said.

Government revenue will come from development taxes on the railway's 194-hectare real estate component, lease of commercial spaces, and fare earnings, he said.

As part of the deficit-neutral clause, Universal LRT agreed to cut its internal rate of return to 11.9 percent from 16.9 percent.

The reduced rate of return means ULC will bear the financial losses if passenger volume and consequently revenues drop, Neri said.

The NEDA committee resolution also specifies that a $1.9-billion performance bond be included in the terms of reference for the project, which Neri described as another way to ensure that the proponent will commit to making the project viable.

The result of the final phase of the bidding process will be subject to review and approval of the NEDA board, which is headed by the President. With INQ7.net

The Philippine Star (August 18, 2006)

President Arroyo unveiled a new massive economic pump-priming program worth more then P350 billion last July for the proposed five super regions - North Luzon, Metro Luzon, Central Philippines, Mindanao and the Cyber Corridor - until 2010.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said 92 big projects under the new pump-priming program are "fully fundable by a mix of revenue and financing schemes."

Four rail projects amounting to P180 billion or 48 percent of the budget, including the one that would complete the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-Light Rail Transit (LRT) loop around Metro Manila (North Ave to Monumento/Malabon) and a track that would run from Malolos, Bulacan to Legazpi City in Albay are under way (Southrail).

Twenty-seven percent of the proposed expenditure for the super regions will go to road projects. There were 26 "road packages" proposed, each consisting of several road projects. The total project cost is P180 billion.

Twenty-three airport development projects, four of which are international airports will also get 11 percent of the budget allocation or some P43.1 billion.

The rest are shared by seaports (P15.8 billion), irrigation (P12.6 billion), bridges (P5 billion) and an assortment of projects worth P13.5 billion, ranging from windmills to machine-readable passports to refrigerated warehouses.

Andaya said that due to declining deficit levels and increasing revenues, the government's budget allocation for infastructure is more than enough to cover the cost even if the GOCCs, the local government units and the private sector fail to pay for the projects "in a worst case scenario." - Paolo Romero

good news. it's been almost a year now since we heard of the first go signal for MRT7.
as for the long distance rails, sana naman hi speed trains na yung gamitin. imagine going to Albay in only just less than 2hrs?

Nakakatakot sumakay sa MRT. Ang init-init pa. Wala bang balak ayusin ng gobyerno ito?

Look at this MRT Station in BKK. Ang layo ng quality ng sa atin!

http://www.igougo.com/photos/journal_photos/bkk_mrt%202.jpg
http://www.igougo.com/photos/journal_photos/bkk_mrt%201.jpg
http://www.igougo.com/photos/journal_photos/bkk_mrt%204.jpg

Ticketing system looks very much like in HK's MTR
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid211/p66d5a084870dba098c4a66885eefa426/eda054fc.jpg

One of the Stations
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid211/pc2a4d4827dd1ed3bd0c53b93390afe86/eda64f43.jpg

Central Station
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid211/p97463c272b62b076d5452c12ff18ba66/eda0552d.jpg

One of the trains
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid211/p12d60b4592e2a8023b331dcf8c960352/eda65c86.jpg

Nakakatakot sumakay sa MRT. Ang init-init pa. Wala bang balak ayusin ng gobyerno ito?
May aircon actually, but sometimes it's not working. Or maybe because it's always jampacked that the aircon system could not handle it anymore.

I really hate those people riding the train. They would still try to push themselves in as long as there's a tiny space where they could stand. Why couldn't they just wait for the next train? This attitude would cause the trains to bug down frequently.

And another thing, the drivers would wait for several minutes in Taft station to fill the coaches, goodness! are they trying to imitate the PUVs?

Bangkok and Hks MRT stations look like airports. Very far from what we have here. To think that we started the trend in SEA.

^^ You haven't seen the stations in NYC subways. Trust me, the LRT/MRT stations in Metro Manila is considered antiseptic compared to NYC.

What do you mean by antiseptic? hehehe... You have pics?

Nope, I don't have photos. I work and live here so I am speaking based on experience. Some stations have garbage on the rail tracks, sewer seeping from the ceiling, some spots smell of urine and you'll see lots of dried gum on the floor. The tile decorations on some stations make it look like your c.r.

Yet, they have the one of the most extensive subway systems in the world (famous for that) with about 20 + lines serving 4 borroughs with local and express trains running elevated or underground. I believe the metro systems doesn't have to be overly fancy as long as it serves its purpose.

^yeah, but goodness. from your description, it doesn't look like a station anymore.

What do you mean by antiseptic? hehehe... You have pics?

Hi XP,

I may just interject in the conversation...

Take a look at the three pictures of the Penn Subway Station I took with my phone (hence the low quality) and I can't help but agree with Askal82.

The stairs and tunnel from NY Penn Amtrak station had puddles of water, really dirty walls and floors, rusty stair handles - looks like it just needs a slight nudge for the the station to fall over and cave in without a need for a terrorist's bomb.

The same scene in replicated on the stations I used, at least on Midtown and Downtown NYC up to Central Park. Bulok talaga. You'd be thankful the country has LRT2, or even MRT3...!

Sorry Askal82 - I am not a big fan of your city's subway, but it's my only way around your city. And BTW, last December, when subway and bus drivers were on strike, I was forced to walk 20 city blocks! But I do love NYC, except maybe that subway bit...

Enjoy your day guys...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n229/rfildefonso/Train%20Stations/12272005042.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n229/rfildefonso/Train%20Stations/12272005041.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n229/rfildefonso/Train%20Stations/12272005043.jpg

^^ exactly. :lol: But it is a description of a typical New York Subway station.

Thanks for the pics ponso. Now I just saw NYC subway station! hehehe...

@ponso, I don't expect anyone to be a fan of NYC subway anyway. hehehehe. Thanks for the photos just to illustrate that the the function of metro systems should be prioritized over aesthetics is enough. By the way, what a surprise you posted here since the last time you joined. Welcome back. :)

@ponso, I don't expect anyone to be a fan of NYC subway anyway. hehehehe. Thanks for the photos just to illustrate that the the function of metro systems should be prioritized over aesthetics is enough. By the way, what a surprise you posted here since the last time you joined. Welcome back. :)

Hi Askal82, XP and dear forumers,

Thank you guys and you are most welcome...

Aesthetics would be a big plus point but with the huge price tag and for a poor country like ours, functionality comes out as top priority. However, if we can spare a few pesos to build better stations , then I think the government should go ahead. The LRT 2 stations, which I thought were brilliant, should be the minimum standards for upcoming projects.

Aesthetics aside though, keeping stations clean should be given a priority, which is totally missing in NYC, based on the discussions so far. Thanks for your info that NYC's subway stations are pretty much like the ones I used... Next time I am at New York, I'm keeping my expectations low, ha ha ha!

I was tempted to, but I did not want to make a generalization on the stations on the entire subway system based on the few ones in Manhattan...

Case in point, in London, you'll find ultra-ancient underground stations in Central London which "feature" the original late 1800s tunnels, but across town in Canary Wharf, you'll be amazed with an ultra-modern station complete with sliding doors. And yes, in certain places (London has its own share of depressed areas), you'll also be appalled by the stations. Never mind that station was built 150 years back (it's the first metro system in the first place), but trash along the tracks and platforms?

BKK and HK pics are nice - parang tourist set pieces. I've tried metros in SG and KL and I thought they were pretty good too. I especially liked the train connection from Changi to the city center and the well planned multi-story interchanges - just take the escalator to catch your train on the platform above or below where you are - certainly a far cry from the stairs and sweaty mile-long walk interchanges between LRT and MRT. To think that LRT was built earlier than SG's MRT...

The high speed airport link from KL Intern'l was cool - half hour for 50 km. Also part of the Putra line passing next to Petronas Towers was underground and featured the same safety sliding doors. It was a shame I was in KL a few months before the monorail opened..!


Ciao...

Article posted August 23, 2006, 10:38 pm
By MARICEL E. ESTAVILLO, BusinessWorld Reporter

The SM Group of mall magnate Henry Sy will form a new real estate company to develop the 194-hectare commercial and residential project in Bulacan, located at the tail end of the planned Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7).

Proposed by Universal LRT Corp., the MRT-7 railway will run from EDSA North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan. This will include a 22-km road access component passing through the North Luzon Expressway Bocaue Exit.

"SM will have the majority in the yet-to-be-formed real estate company with other still-to-be-identified companies," a highly placed SM source told BusinessWorld on Wednesday.

The SM Group, through SM Investments Corp., Banco de Oro Universal Bank, and PentaCapital Management Corp., has a 20% stake in Universal LRT Corp.

"MRT-7 goes from SM North EDSA to San Jose, Bulacan through Fairview. At the end of the line, SM will be involved in developing roughly 194 hectares into commercial and residential area and the retail aspect of the line," the SM source added.

In its proposal to the government, Universal LRT said the mixed-use project will include the development of 7,300 residential units, 900 offices and a 90,000-square meter mall.

Once developed, the Bulacan mixed-use property will be more than three times bigger than the 60-hectare SM Central Business Park in Pasay City which hosts the 380,000-square meter SM Mall of Asia.

Eli Levin, Universal LRT managing director, said in a separate interview that once completed, the project will become the country’s first intermodal transport facility that will be directly connected to a rail station and a commercial and residential center.

"The train comes underground into the last terminal. Above it, the intermodal can park up to 60 buses simultaneously. And from here, the buses will have a six-lane express connecting to the North Luzon Expressway," Mr. Levin said.

This, he said will help decongest Metro Manila.

wow.. that is great.. an intermodal for North Luzon Buses... definitely it will decongest Manila specially the Cubao section of EDSA...

the trains should just be as spacious as MRT2 trains are... Bulacan, North Caloocan, and some from Rizal may benefit on this....

at syempre hataw ang SM since the train will start from an SM property in QC (SM North) and end at another SM property (SM San Jose del Monte kaya?) hehehe...

wow.. that is great.. an intermodal for North Luzon Buses... definitely it will decongest Manila specially the Cubao section of EDSA...

the trains should just be as spacious as MRT2 trains are... Bulacan, North Caloocan, and some from Rizal may benefit on this....

at syempre hataw ang SM since the train will start from an SM property in QC (SM North) and end at another SM property (SM San Jose del Monte kaya?) hehehe...

im so excited sa project!

wow.. really great news!
at least with the SM group in tow it means that the line would really push thru.. sayang kasi pag nagawa na yung part ng SM group and the line itself isnt finished yet..

sana ma umpisahan na, maramimg tao ang mag benefit dyan, dumarami n din kc tao sa
may part ng bulacan na yan, madami kcng na relocate dun sa part ng bulacan na un.

SAAN PA DADAAN YONG EXPRESS LANE FROM FAIRVIEW TO BOCAUE NLEX

puro proposed nlng ba d2??? walang bng line na UC n ngaun?

^^Nope, di pa u/c. Pero I think na-approve na yan kaya construction will start any time soon.

^^ exactly. :lol: But it is a description of a typical New York Subway station.

Give it a break. LOL. It's very old.

MRT would look so much better w/out the cables on the top. IMO

http://images.nycsubway.org/logo/title-skytrain.jpg
Vancouver's Skytrain.

^^
The London Underground stations look more decent and is much older than NYC.

^^
The London Underground stations look more decent and is much older than NYC.

And that... is what's so great about their subway.

From wiki.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/060309_3rdGenLRVMockup01.jpg
A full-scale mockup of the third generation of Yellow Line trains

Ang ganda. Kaya lang mukha siyang wierd...

Tagal na nyan nakalagay sa website ng LRTA, sana gamitin na nila. Sobrang sisiksikan na sa LRT1 eh.

Hi XP,

I may just interject in the conversation...

The stairs and tunnel from NY Penn Amtrak station had puddles of water, really dirty walls and floors, rusty stair handles - looks like it just needs a slight nudge for the the station to fall over and cave in without a need for a terrorist's bomb.

The same scene in replicated on the stations I used, at least on Midtown and Downtown NYC up to Central Park. Bulok talaga. You'd be thankful the country has LRT2, or even MRT3...!



In Boston their subways are filthy and scary at night. It is one of the most extensive subway system in the United States and from what I have seen in some areas it is very filthy, dark and definitely rundown albeit efficient. Considering it's a first world city and with funds to boot you would think it will have some of the cleanest subways in the world but it's not necessarily the case. :)

ok na rin. not bad. but the stations alse needs refurbishing along with the trains. plus more lighting sana. i've been to Central Station several times last year and the lighting was poor. Can be a place for any mishap or holdups kaya. Hopefully not.

LRT Line 1 South Extension's Invitation for Expressions of Interest and calling for Registration is already posted in LRTA's website. They set a deadline (October 6, 2006) for submitting of such. Hope this will speed up the construction of the LRT Extension.

In Boston their subways are filthy and scary at night. It is one of the most extensive subway system in the United States and from what I have seen in some areas it is very filthy, dark and definitely rundown albeit efficient. Considering it's a first world city and with funds to boot you would think it will have some of the cleanest subways in the world but it's not necessarily the case. :)

You're absolutely right there and thanks for the info. My brother stayed in Boston for a couple of years and he is not a fan of the Boston T. He used mostly the Red Line to get to the city center when he's not out and about in client's offices. No wonder, even the famous Boston Big Dig is crumbling, ha ha ha! Well, being a first world country does not guarantee that infra projects will work, I suppose.

Well, anyway, there's news of new rail lines being built in the metropolis. As for Northrail, I previously stated that I am looking forward to nostalgia and ride the train again. Also, we do hope the newer lines would feature a little enhancement on aesthetics, apart from being really useful and fuctional, more like LRT2, which I thought was great. Not perfect, but it works and helps the country move forward. And of course, better interconnection with other public transport modes (having said that, shame on MRT3 planners, ha ha ha!)

And by the way, even Lonely Planet notices the change in our public transport. In the transportation section on Manila, LP says "The trains get very crowded as people travel home from work, but the system is still much quicker than crawling along in a bus, taxi or jeepney. Car hire is available, but with public transport so good and the traffic so bad, there's really no need to bother". Check it out at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/philippines/manila/transport?a=ga

Have a nice day.

LRT Line 1 South Extension's Invitation for Expressions of Interest and calling for Registration is already posted in LRTA's website. They set a deadline (October 6, 2006) for submitting of such. Hope this will speed up the construction of the LRT Extension.

Will that involve finally a station / link / extension (ewan basta ikabit lang) to NAIA? Or will that be built separately through the depot?

Guys, saw the other night new LRT coaches along Roxas being moved through the trailer trucks... ang galing hehe

Guys, saw the other night new LRT coaches along Roxas being moved through the trailer trucks... ang galing hehe

dscribe mo naman ano itsura ng mga bagong coach.. na excite ako!

Wow...the new coaches arrived na pala! Hopefully, people'll be able to ride them anytime soon :okay:

napanood ko yung udpate sa plano ni arroyo sa lrt/mrt ang plano ni arroyo ay i-extend and notrth ng lert 1 up to pampanga cugro for the clark terminal transportation convenience at yung south ng lrt 1 to calamba laguna... correct me if i got the wrong info, ok.

Elevated track to pampanga and Calamba? That would be too expensive.. Maybe you're refering to Northrail and Southrail..

Anybody who has the latest news on the EDSA MRT extension from North Avenue to Monumento/Malabon?

balita ko tuloy na ung gagawin nila na lrt, ung dadaan ng quezon ave??

Guys, saw the other night new LRT coaches along Roxas being moved through the trailer trucks... ang galing hehe

kewl. can u describe how the coaches look like? do they look modern? u see it as "new coaches", so this is interesting! most likely eto na yung donation galing Vienna. if i remember it right, the new coaches will start running in metro manila railways next month (4th quarter).

Elevated track to pampanga and Calamba? That would be too expensive.. Maybe you're refering to Northrail and Southrail..


Yeah, it's probably going to be an interconnection with the Northrail and Southrail. That would definitely spur the development of Manila into a Megalopolis! Imagine living in Pampanga and working in Makati or Fort Bonifacio? As Rusty said, "kewl"! :)

I think those are the new ones from Japan Nipon sharyo. Those are for LRT1 expansion.

The viennese trains for MRT are not new and modern looking as I posted before Plus there apparently has been a big hitch with the technical portion. The Viennese Austrian gov't is game to donate them (with a little sideline refurbishment from Bombardier Vienna!) but apparently the compatibility issues are much larger than initially thought (the vienese trains are accessed from the road, our mrt are accessed from an elevated platform - just one issue). There has been no PR since the time they released this statement about 2 months ago. MRT3 really needs more trains, masyadong masikip even on none peak hours, specially with the silly all female train rule.

The elevated track is definitely northrail. This is neccesary along the candaba marsh area most specially. Line 1 terminus will hub through a mega station with MRT 3 and North rail as per current plans. But alam mo naman dito till the fat lady sings it ain't over. BUt I'm pretty sure they will not change the alignment of North Rail running from Caloocan to Bulacan and not extending LRT1 to Bulucan.

The board of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has approved a much cheaper project cost of a rail system from Parañaque to the province of Cavite, an official of LRTA said.

In a telephone interview, Mel Robles, LRTA general manager, said the board approved the new project cost of LRT Line 1 South Extension project amounting to more than $600 million, lower than the $841.486-million proposal of the SNC Lavalin, the original project proponent.

Robles also said that the board has endorsed the updated feasibility study and the concession agreement of the project to the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordinating Committee (NEDA-ICC).

The 11.7 kilometers LRT 1 south extension will run southward to the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas and the neighboring municipalities of Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas, in the Cavite province.

Danilo S. Tolentino, LRTA project manager said that the project’s tender offer will be on October this year and subsequent evaluation by the end of second-quarter of 2007.

Tolentino said discussions are being initiated with PEA for the possible transfer or donation of properties owned by PEA to LRTA for use in the LRT Line 1 South Extension project.

He also said that LRTA has requested the City Appraisal Committee for Las Piñas and the Municipality of Bacoor in Cavite to convene for the purpose of determining the current values of the affected land, buildings and improvements owned by various owners that will be affected by the project.

Robles had said that four foreign firms expressed intentions to submit bid proposals to finance the design, construction, supply, operation and maintenance of the project under Build-Operate Transfer Law.

The foreign firms include a Japanese construction firm, an Indian-American joint venture and two Spanish firms, he said.

The LRT Line 1 South Extension, a priority project of the government, is expected to serve some 800,000 passengers a day and cut travel time from Bacoor, Cavite, to Monumento, Caloocan City, to less than an hour.
LINK (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/sept/12/yehey/business/20060912bus6.html)


This would be a big relief to all Caviteños who always (almost everyday) experiencing traffic going to work in Manila from Cavite Area and Vice Versa.I just know because my cousins live there. And most of all this will lessen the "holdup -snatch scenes".

Talaga, We were stuck in the entire coastal road for 2 hours on our way to a resort in Cavite.. It was a hell disaster.

Talaga, We were stuck in the entire coastal road for 2 hours on our way to a resort in Cavite.. It was a hell disaster.

I share your grief. I experienced it everyday for almost four years just to go to school :)

Kawawa naman kami na nasa other side ng cavite (Molino National Road) di namin sya mapapakinabangan kasi sa iba ang daan ng train.

@francisXavier, normal na yong 2 hours na traffic sa coastal kaya pag mabilis ang byahe ko nakangiti ako kasi hindi normal yon, it's either nag declare si GMA ng holiday ng hindi ko alam or madaling araw ang byahe ko kaya mabilis ang byahe.

Sayang nga din at di dadaan sa Molino Road ang train, ang hirap sumakay, kunti lang ang sasakyan papuntang Lawton, sa Zapote lang ang route ng mga jeepneys..kaya usually 5:30 am abang nako, haay gising maaga lagi...

Kawawa naman kami na nasa other side ng cavite (Molino National Road) di namin sya mapapakinabangan kasi sa iba ang daan ng train.

@francisXavier, normal na yong 2 hours na traffic sa coastal kaya pag mabilis ang byahe ko nakangiti ako kasi hindi normal yon, it's either nag declare si GMA ng holiday ng hindi ko alam or madaling araw ang byahe ko kaya mabilis ang byahe.
hahaha, pero pag balik namin kinabukasan 120kph na ang takbo.

yun pala ung sinasabi ko ng kuya ko na approve na, ung lrt 1 expansion... :D

great news for the LRT 1 expansion.. hope that the expansion to the airport would be next.. :D

great news for the LRT 1 expansion.. hope that the expansion to the airport would be next.. :D

Indeed, it would be more convenient if such would happen :)

Ang alam ko from the LRT depot, dadaan sa T1, T2, then the train would go underground(under the runway) to T3.

sana matuloy na yang construction sa extension ng LRT1. at sana rin magprovide ng multi-level parking sa dulo ng line para dun sa mga nakatira ng gen. trias, silang, tagaytay pede na lang ipark sasakyan nila at magcommute. malelessen na cguro trapik sa aguinaldo at coastal :-)

BWorld reports that NEDA ICC has approved Wally's worst nightmare which is the 9 kilometer standalond ENT. The official approved line starts from SM CITY North Edsa all the way now to Malabon!

I must say I agree it's not very smart to do this unless there is a way to eventually connect the two lines (it's actually the same alignment anyway).

Oh well I guess this means that they really plan to make EDSA,NOrth Ave into a major major Metropolitan Terminus. Not only does it include over 500,000 sq.m. of retail space from Trinoma and SM City, it's the terminus of the ENT, MRT3, and MRT 7 and the MetroManila North Bus Terminal!

Perhaps we should build a heli station na rin so that we can complement this all.

^^

Ugh! Its funny how the LRT lines are the only example of how the government, through the LRTA, works better than the private sector. I'm guessing that the dreaded ENT is pushing through as MRT3 management can't even purchase more trains to boost capacity, much less construct an extension of their overused line.

I wonder, would things have turned out better if the LRTA constructed line 3 first?

Neda has just approved the ENT project.. Construction will start January next year up to 2010.

^^

Ugh! Its funny how the LRT lines are the only example of how the government, through the LRTA, works better than the private sector. I'm guessing that the dreaded ENT is pushing through as MRT3 management can't even purchase more trains to boost capacity, much less construct an extension of their overused line.

I wonder, would things have turned out better if the LRTA constructed line 3 first?


hear hear, the observation is noted and quite true! For some strange reason this must be a first where a government entity provides better service than the private sector. MRT 3 is almost a disgrace specially when you compare it with LRT2 which was designed and done around the same time. Of course we have conveniently forgotten that LRT2 took so long to construct, Line 3 was finished first ! but why get bogged down by details when we're on a roll bashing MRT Corp. hehe. My direct experience in it has steadily gotten worse through the years specially now with the idiotic female only car with no people and coed cars filled with females who can't read! In any case I do hope the new line eli levin is spearheading (line 7) will be as good as line 2 and not like line 3! Good luck to us all, (Well more for you guys in the north as I'll probably almost never have to take that line:))

A full scale mock up of the 3rd generation Light Rail Vehicle (LRV), is now on display at the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) depot in Pasay City. The LRTA is expecting a fleet of twelve (12) brand new, four car trains to arrive sometime in the third quarter of this year.

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/press_release/pressphotos/060309_3rdGenLRVMockup01.jpg

The fleet of 48 coaches will augment the present fleet when the ongoing Line 1 Capacity Expansion Project Phase II - Package A (CAPEX-IIA) is completed.

These 3rd generation trains will feature a lot of new safety features and will be more PWD (Passenger with Disability) friendly. Non skid rubber mattings, tie down points for passengers on wheelchair and strategically placed fire extinguishers are some of the features of these new trains. Train operators will likewise be treated to better ergonomically designed seats to reduced fatigue.

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/press_release/pressphotos/060309_3rdGenLRVMockup02.jpg

The new coaches will be fully air conditioned and will boost the current capacity of the Light Rail Transit Authority from the present 27,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) to almost 40,000 pphpd.


As part of the design process, this vehicle mock up was constructed to evaluate the effectiveness of the vehicle interior and its layout and to demonstrate the vehicle concept in real terms. It was made to full-scale model of the three major sections of the vehicle resulting to a useable vehicle display units showing the true attributes of the 3rd generation vehicle representing 54% (14m of 26m) of the vehicle length (see diagram below). With the driver's cab being equipped with full production components, the mockup is also envisioned to be used as a training simulator at a later time.

ADMINISTRATOR MEL ROBLES, Engineer Evangeline Razon, DBM Undersecretary Luis Liwanag, II, Rolling Stock Consultant Porfirio Nabos and Project Manager for the Manila Tren Consortium Mazayuki Hasegawa recently went on an inspection tour in Osaka, Japan

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/press_release/pressphotos/060309_3rdGenLRVMockup03.jpg

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/press_release/press_release_060309_3rdGenLRV.htm

BWorld reports that NEDA ICC has approved Wally's worst nightmare which is the 9 kilometer standalond ENT. The official approved line starts from SM CITY North Edsa all the way now to Malabon!

I must say I agree it's not very smart to do this unless there is a way to eventually connect the two lines (it's actually the same alignment anyway).

Oh well I guess this means that they really plan to make EDSA,NOrth Ave into a major major Metropolitan Terminus. Not only does it include over 500,000 sq.m. of retail space from Trinoma and SM City, it's the terminus of the ENT, MRT3, and MRT 7 and the MetroManila North Bus Terminal!

Perhaps we should build a heli station na rin so that we can complement this all.

OMG, REALLY? STANDALONE?

It's also not just about CONVENIENCE (walkathon to the ENTstation, as if walking from North Ave station to SM North isn't punishing enough), but another FARE scheme for this (like another P10??) instead of integrating it with the MRT's (same fare for neighboring stations and a difference of P0.50 for the next set)?

THAT'S JUST HORRIBLE.

But in any case, I'm just as happy for those living in Malabon that it'll finally cut my fare and travel time in a few years (not to mention the VALUE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES in the northern part of EDSA). Inulan na rin kayo SA WAKAS ng grasya na hindi BUMABAHA. Hehehehehe

OMG! why would they create the standalone ENT?! thats one of the major problems of our LRT/MRT lines today.. the inaccessibility of them from one another.. look at the connection of LRT2 to MRT3 and LRT1 to MRT3.. you have to walk thru the elements just to get to one station to another..

why cant they do something similar to the stations in HK or singapore, where everything is really connected to one another.. so very sad....

im waiting for wally's eruption on this issue.. hehehe..

^hehehe...Wally where are you?:D

But yeah, its incredible that our planners still insist on stand alone systems. I cannot understand why accessible line connections are not one of their priorities in planning our mass transportation systems. Now, the only thing they could do (and i hope they do it) is what bustero said...they should connect it to trinoma (although i doubt the Ayalas planned for this) so that it will be accessible to MRT 3 (and lines 4 & 7, if ever).

Paging Wally, Paging Wally, I guess he has not heard,naku just wait till he hears this we or rather LRTA will not hear the end of it! hehe

You raise a good point Flip. The fare structure for essentially going up and down EDSA is now to fares rather than a tack on fare! My goodness. Plus the inconvenience of moving through from one station to the other.

Perhaps the two malls had a hand in this so they can make sure the 400,000 people who use these trains are forced to get down and maybe enticed to go to and through their malls!!! I hope this was not the case.

I pray that in the long run, should it really be standalone that there is a way to connect the two lines and make them one.

Maniladailyphoto's Flickr

LRT
http://static.flickr.com/77/181303452_f7e9f0cac5.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/62/177700810_1f7bae5fd0.jpg?v=0

kamusta na yung trains from austria?

haaay... kelan kya magdodonate ang pinas ng second hand trains sa ibang countries?

Maniladailyphoto's Flickr

LRT
http://static.flickr.com/77/181303452_f7e9f0cac5.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/62/177700810_1f7bae5fd0.jpg?v=0



parang ang kitid ng trains ng LRT1 compared to LRT2..isnt it?

sobrang kitid... pero parang twice yung dami ng mga sumasakay,

kamusta na yung trains from austria?

haaay... kelan kya magdodonate ang pinas ng second hand trains sa ibang countries?

Nandiyan na nga daw ehh... may nakakita na nga...

Nandiyan na nga daw ehh... may nakakita na nga...
iba ata yung dumating.. hindi yun galing sa Aussie kasi hindi compatible yung mga trains sa line3 stations.. masyadong mababa ang floor ng mga train ng aussie.

^^ BAsta... sino man nakakita, pakidescribe naman yung bagong coaches...

and the hits just keep on coming, interesting barb about lrt 4 not starting a project they've never been given a greenlight for!

Vol. XX, No. 44
Tuesday, September 26, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

The Economy
MRT-7 proponent expands railway plan

Universal LRT Corp., the main proponent of the $1.235-billion Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) rail project, has expanded its original plan to accommodate future construction of MRT-4 and the MRT-3 extension.

The proposed MRT-7 railway will run from EDSA North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

About four and a half kilometers of MRT-7 on EDSA North Avenue will overlap with the proposed MRT-4, which itself will run 22.6 kilometers from the Old Bilibid Prison in Manila, passing Batasan Road in Quezon City, to Quirino Highway in Novaliches.

Universal LRT Managing Director Eli Levin said in an interview yesterday that his group will build 180 posts and copings [the top layer support] for use of the builder of MRT-4.

This job alone is estimated to cost the company about $11 million.

But Mr. Levin said they will retain the original project cost despite the move to add new features, which he described as part of the project’s "amplification."

"This is only an amplification. There is no change in project cost, no change in alignment [of the railway], no change in composition and no change in investors," he said.

Mr. Levin described the additional feature in the plan as just a "minor adjustment."

"[It is] Nothing compared [with] the $1.2-billion project cost. We are not eliminating MRT-4, nor will we work with anybody. We are doing this so that in the future, if they want to set up MRT-4, there will be no problem because that is already part of our project cost," he said.

It will be recalled that the original proponent of MRT-4 once asked the Department of Transportation and Communications to desist from evaluating the MRT-7 proposal, saying this would affect the MRT-4 route.

The MRT-4 Consortium is composed of Bouygues-Javlon International (Phils.) Inc.-SOFRETU. But the consortium lost its original proponent status after the Justice department declared that the group failed to start construction within the prescribed 18-month validity period.

Mr. Levin said his group will also build a joint station with the proposed MRT-3 extension. At one point on EDSA North Avenue, MRT-7 will meet with the MRT-3 extension.

"So, if you have an integrated system for MRT-3 and MRT-7, people will only have to pass through the platformWe will extend the station, regardless of what will happen to [the planned] MRT-3 project," Mr. Levin said.

With a total length of 6.2 kilometers, the MRT-3 extension will extend the existing MRT-3 line to Monumento in Caloocan from the current end station at North Avenue in Quezon City.

This will then link the MRT-3 system to the LRT Line 1 via the Monumento Station and with the soon-to-be-built Northrail station in Caloocan, which will connect Metro Manila to Northern Luzon.

Universal LRT is waiting for the opening of counterbidding for the MRT-7 project, as required by the build-operate transfer (BOT) law prior to the signing of the final contract. DoTC said the government might start accepting challengers by next month.

"Naturally, everybody is worried. We want to make sure that there will be no future litigation and nobody will complain. In other countries, the delays are much longer for such huge projects," Mr. Levin said.

Once Universal LRT gets the contract early next year, it can start construction by 2008 and finish by 2011.

The MRT-7 project will include a 22-kilometer road access component passing through the North Luzon Expressway Bocaue Exit.

About 300,000 passengers are projected to ride MRT-7 daily in its first year of operations, increasing by 50,000 yearly until it peaks at 850,000. They will be carried by 88 trains, with an additional 42 by 2025. -- Maricel E. Estavillo

Universal LRT Managing Director Eli Levin said in an interview yesterday that his group will build 180 posts and copings [the top layer support] for use of the builder of MRT-4.


so they will build the posts and just leave it there? waiting for the MRT-4 project to finally start? that seems weird..

Mr. Levin said his group will also build a joint station with the proposed MRT-3 extension. At one point on EDSA North Avenue, MRT-7 will meet with the MRT-3 extension.

"So, if you have an integrated system for MRT-3 and MRT-7, people will only have to pass through the platformWe will extend the station, regardless of what will happen to [the planned] MRT-3 project," Mr. Levin said.

what kind of link are they talking about? for the MRT-3 system? you have to get off the station and walk to another platform?

Once Universal LRT gets the contract early next year, it can start construction by 2008 and finish by 2011.

hope that no problems would occur and it really starts by 2008..

yeah I hope this project push through soon...

anyways.. isn't it the ENT got the approval instead of the MRT3 extension?

and assuming the MRT3 extension pushes through... where would they plan to build that terminal since MRT3 is on EDSA while MRT7 is on North Ave... with TriNoMa in between...

atribida MRT-4 ah...! hehehe... menos gastos sila dahil MRT-7 na gagawa ng solusyon para matuloy ang line4... hehehe... :colgate:

i hope totoo na talaga ung 2011 na yan.. :)

i hope that line 7's trains are more modern than line 2's trains.. it should have passenger information systems(LED/LCD screens displaying next stations and advertisements) and dot matrix for the terminus stations...

It's gonna be a track over track..like in bangkok..

can someone illustrate kung ano magiging itsura nung extra posts...


sabi ni francisxavier,

_________
I________I
I----I----I

so one line goes on the top layer and another line goes at the bottom...?
(ung mga dash ay kalsada ah... :lol: )

naiimagine ko naman...

______________
I------I--------I
since maluwag siya(commonwealth naman un eh), ung isang side gagamitin ng mrt7 then the other side ung mrt4...

or pwede rin namang...

_____
---I-----I
(line 7 ung nasa left side tapos pa-epal ung nakatiwangwang na nasa kanan) imposible to... hehehehehehe.. :lol:

or

___I___
(at grade ung sa line7 tapos ung line 4 sa taas.. hehehe :lol:

Yun yung pagkakaintindi ko sa nabasa ko sa business world.. Your illustration would mean 4 tracks on a single viaduct?

^^ inedit ko na... nilagyan ko nalng ng dash ung sa baba...

yep... 4 tracks.. 2 tracks muna gagawin ng mrt7... ewan ko lang...

pwede rin ung sa illustration mo... kaso mukhang mahal un.

MRT/LRT from a camphone:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/BernieMack_145_.jpg
LRT1 Yellow Line Central Terminal by 8PM

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/BernieMack_142_-1.jpg
MRT3 Blue Line Ayala Terminal during Rush Hour

can someone illustrate kung ano magiging itsura nung extra posts...


sabi ni francisxavier,

_________
I________I
I----I----I

so one line goes on the top layer and another line goes at the bottom...?
(ung mga dash ay kalsada ah... :lol: )

naiimagine ko naman...

______________
I------I--------I
since maluwag siya(commonwealth naman un eh), ung isang side gagamitin ng mrt7 then the other side ung mrt4...

or pwede rin namang...

_____
---I-----I
(line 7 ung nasa left side tapos pa-epal ung nakatiwangwang na nasa kanan) imposible to... hehehehehehe.. :lol:

or

___I___
(at grade ung sa line7 tapos ung line 4 sa taas.. hehehe :lol:

if ever yung plan nung mrt-7 is yung sa palafox, i saw one which is like, one line goes on the top layer and another line goes at the bottom... ganon ung sample drawing nila... lalo na ung sa my sm north edsa sation na magagawa...

MRT/LRT from a camphone:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/BernieMack_145_.jpg
LRT1 Yellow Line Central Terminal by 8PM

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/BernieMack_142_-1.jpg
MRT3 Blue Line Ayala Terminal during Rush Hour

diba bawala ang pics sa loob ng mga stations??

^^^ yup, pero syempre d naman lahat nakikita ng guard kaya madali kumuha ng pic sa loob.

GMA orders immediate bidding
for MRT-3 extension project

By Lenie Lectura
Reporter

PRESIDENT Arroyo ordered on Tuesday the immediate bidding for the build-operate-transfer contract for the Metro Rail Transit 3 extension project estimated to cost $550 million.

“The President gave instructions to start the bidding this year,” said transport deputy chief Roberto Castañares in a press briefing on Wednesday.

The official from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the National Economic and Development Authority board formally approved the other day that the project be bid out. Also, a plan to seek official development assistance (ODA) to meet the target commercial launch of the project by 2010 was likewise scrapped.

“The project will be financed purely by the private sector. An ODA takes about two years to be approved. If we go by that, then we will no longer meet the target opening of the extension project by 2010,” said Castañares.

He said the bid documents and the terms of reference have been prepared. By the first week of October, the DOTC will publish the bid invites.

The MRT-3 extension project is also known as the Edsa North Rail Transit (ENT), a 9.2-kilometer railway line with 11 stations, spanning from Navotas to Caloocan and all the way to Malabon.

This project is envisioned to connect existing railway systems in Manila such as the LRT line 1, MRT-3, MRT-7 and the 32-km South Manila line which stretches from Samson Road in Caloocan to Alabang.

Castañares said a 3.2-km railway line, from Monumento to Caloocan, will be built underground.

The DOTC had earlier opted to seek an ODA to save on cost. But since the President wanted the ENT project to be operational four years from now, the government decided it would be best to bid the project.

“If we had opted for the ODA, the project cost would be cheaper because commercial rates would be lower. However, we thought of a scheme whereby the proponent will tap financing from multilateral agencies such as in Japan or Korea so that the Philippines can still get the lowest rate possible,” said Castañares.

There are four foreign companies and one local interested to participate in the auction. Castañares declined to reveal their identities but said these are Japan, Korea, China, Italy and a Filipino consortium.

“Some will launch their bid through a joint venture while others will undertake on their own,” Castañares added.

The MRT Corp., the consortium which developed MRT-3, lost its exclusive right to bid for the ENT project.

The consortium had submitted a proposal to undertake the construction of the extension project as it claimed it owned the right to build the extension based on a supplemental agreement it signed with the DOTC in 1999. However, the Department of Justice ruled that the supplemental agreement had expired.


http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/eco02.php

MRT, LRT suspend operations

Operations of the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit were halted Thursday as tropical storm Milenyo battered Metro Manila, DZMM reported.

MRT operations from Taft Avenue to Boni Avenue were temporarily halted due to power shortage, MRT General Manager Roberto Lastimoso said. He added that MRT operations will remain suspended for the rest of the day due to strong winds brought on by Milenyo. The MRT line runs from North Avenue and ends at Taft-EDSA.

LRT management said strong winds could trip power cables and affect train operations. LRT lines 1 and 2 ply the Taft Avenue and Aurora-Claro M. Recto routes in Manila.

Mel Robles, Light Rail Transit Authority administrator, said LRT employees were already advised to go home.

Weather bureau PAGASA said Milenyo's winds weakened slightly from 130 kilometers per hour to 110 kph after passing the southern part of Quezon province Thursday afternoon. Milenyo's gusts decreased from 150 kph to 140 kph.

The storm is expected to pass Bataan before leaving the country toward South China Sea by Thursday evening. The storm is expected to reach 310 km west northwest of Metro Manila or 210 km west southwest of Iba, Zambales, by Friday morning.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=51660

wow the LRT really is crowded. With the proposed LRT lines not exactly confined to just Metro Manila I think it's time the LRT be made into some kind of suburban train system i.e. it's a more of an overhead/on-ground train system than a light rail system because let's face it with 10 million inhabitants light rail isn't really light with the number of passengers it gets. Has the LRTA considered double-decker trains?just a thought

^ I've never seen any double-decker trains even on pictures, lol. Can you cite some countries using double-decker trains?

NEDA board OKs extension of P8-B loan for LRT-1 capacity expansion

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) board has approved a two-year extension of the P8-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 Capacity Expansion, Phase II to allow its implementing agency to maximize proceeds of the loan.

The Cabinet level of interagency Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) earlier allowed the Light Rail Transit Authority’s (LRTA) request to have the loan project extended beyond September 4 this year, its closing date.

LRTA noted an extension would ensure availability of funds for all additionally ordered spare parts, equipment and consumables which will be determined only during the first year—March 2007 to March 2008—of the project’s two-year defect-liability period.
The agency also wanted sufficient time to process payment of billings, including the release of retention monies, which are charged against the loan.

LRT 1, the first elevated railway system in the country that spans about 16 kilometers from Baclaran in Parañaque City to Monumento in Caloocan City, transports about 450,000 people a day.

The project should expand the capacity of LRT 1 to 40,000 passengers per peak hour per direction (pphpd) from the expanded capacity of 27,000 pphpd achieved during Phase I of the loan.

The ICC technical board, in endorsing the project’s loan extension, noted that 74.5 percent of the loan’s Package A had been achieved by end-June, versus the 72.1-percent target, while Package B was already finished.

Package A involves the acquisition of 12 air-conditioned four-car trains; the upgrade and procurement of equipment for signaling, telecommunications, traction power supply and distribution, track works and automated fare collection system as well as additional civil works for some stations and depot. Package B meanwhile will install air-conditioning units in LRTA’s old fleet involving 21 three-car trains.

The fleet complement now includes seven new-generation and air-conditioned four-car trains. R. Balaba

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/eco02.php

^ I've never seen any double-decker trains even on pictures, lol. Can you cite some countries using double-decker trains?

Sydney, Australia uses double decker trains,

u may find pictures from their website, www.cityrail.com.au
the latest trains are the so called millenium trains, really posh and spacy..

all good news about MRT-7. let's all cross our hands for the completion of this project. 2011 seems so far off from now. nyway, time flies, before we know it, 2010 na.

so we're going to have 2 layered tracks? i'd be excited to see this. pero sana, where the stations meet, dapat magkalevel na yung platforms para wala na akyat baba.

^ I've never seen any double-decker trains even on pictures, lol. Can you cite some countries using double-decker trains?

CalTrain in the San Francisco bay area dispatches double-decker trains during rush hours.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid216/pa7be1e7077b1ba5f2d3ff0f87264ef7e/ecbc5101.jpg

Here are more pics http://railroadpictures.net/Trains/Caltrain/

The TGV Duplex

This is an interesting generation of the TGV, duplex in English means two levels, this is a double Decker train. It was built because the TGV has been a victim of its own success, SNCF found it hard to supply enough TGV services to cope with the ever increasing demand. The Paris Lyon line had reached saturation point with up to one train running every three minutes, there was no way more trains could be put into action. One solution was to have two TGV sets coupled together, and this is now the norm for TGV. Even two sets coupled together can't give the demanded capacity though, so it was decided to deal with the problem to build a double-decker TGV train. There were two main advantages, it had 45% more capacity, and only had 4% more drag than a conventional TGV. Naturally this is capable of 300km/h or 186mph in revenue service. It was introduced in 1996.


http://www.o-keating.com/hsr/mulhouse1.jpg

http://www.trains-idf.net/imgv/tgv%20Duplex.png

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/frenchtgv/images/french5.jpg