Metro Manila LRT and MRT Lines - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 9

Sinjin P.

March 18th, 2006, 06:08 AM

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

The LRTA is expecting a fleet of twelve (12) brand new, four car trains to arrive sometime in the third quarter of this year.

Glad that these new trains will at least be operating this year :)
PressRelease

3rd Generation LRV Mock Up on Display

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

normandb

March 18th, 2006, 07:07 AM

only 2 doors per car? unahan sa pinto yan.

ryanr

March 18th, 2006, 07:11 AM

^^ its fine with me...since one car is quite small.

richard24

March 18th, 2006, 10:42 AM

@ ramvingar...
yup... tama si greyX... its in front of the admin bldg of FEU... beside jose fabella hospital, bounded by quezon blvd., recto and oroquieta. its at the tip of lerma.
its that smelly old squatters haven between line 1 D.jose station and 2 recto station.
IMO, they seriously need to get rid of that thing and relocate those sqautters.

@sinjin... try it... its cool. lalo na ung line 2. (if ever u decide to ride the mrt/lrt lines when you visit manila... i'm your tour guide.) txt mo lang ako. anjan nako. :lol:
kung first time mo...
line 2: sight seeing to the max.
line 3: medyo sight seeing.
line 1: kapit sa handrail. shakey ang ride.
araw-araw akong nasa line 2. nakakasuya rin pala. kaya pag nag line 1 ako.. adventure! :lol:
ako tour guide ha! :)

btw, that new line would not be allowed by the govt of manila unless its underground. kahit ako d papayag na sirain nila ang view ng roxas blvd. although that line is very crucial for business and tourism.

renell

March 18th, 2006, 01:51 PM

yeah the coaches look pretty small anyways. it looks very unaerodynamic, especially the backside. I often thought LRT trains were symmetrical ie when line ends it just reverses.

richard24

March 18th, 2006, 02:31 PM

isang coach lang ata yang mock...
just like the ones being used... pag chinop-chop mo un it looks like that too. pareho ang line 1 and 3... u cannot go from one tip to the other. kasi may division ung coaches.
iyang anjan ay model nung main attributes nung train. pero hindi pa buo. most probably na ganun din ung kabilang dulo ng train... may driver din. :) d nila maooperate ung ng pakabila kung indi.

bustero

March 21st, 2006, 04:56 AM

Vol. XIX, No. 170
Tuesday, March 21, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Corporate News

BY KERLYN G. BAUTISTA, Reporter
MRT-7 proponent told to put up performance bonds of $1.899B

Approval of the five-year old proposal to put up the Metro Rail Transit 7, or MRT-7, was again put on hold last week after some government officials took a hardline stance of requiring project proponent, Universal LRT Corp. Ltd. (ULC), to post performance bonds equivalent to the 25-year tax revenues which the proponent promised the real-estate component of the rail project could yield.

Sources from the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), the top government body that approves big-ticket public projects, said officials had insisted that ULC post bonds worth $1.899 billion, either in cash or every three years over its proposed 25-year concession agreement with the government.

The officials from the Finance and Trade departments as well the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, who are all part of the committee, had wanted the government to be able to tap the bonds in the event that ULC misses to generate promised taxes from the real-estate component of the project.

ULC said it will develop 7,300 residential units, 900 office units, and a 90,000-square meter gross mall area in a 195-hectare estate in Bulacan, tax revenues from which will be funneled to partly finance the 17-km, $1.235-billion railway.

Real-estate development is in compliance with the Arroyo administration’s deficit-neutral policy to guard the state from having to subsidize MRT-7 by requiring ULC to raise non-rail revenues to complement income from rail operations.

The government will advance $108 million for MRT-7 yearly for the first 10 years of the concession period. It will, however, collect revenues of $4.40 billion during the balance of the 25 years.

The stance of the officials stirred a deadlock between the government and ULC since the latter is unwilling to post the full amount of projected tax revenues, ICC sources added on condition of anonymity.

ULC said it can only post a performance bond worth only $393.5 million or 10% of both the $123.5-million construction cost of MRT-7 the $270-million development cost of the rail’s real-estate component.

Posting of performance bond equivalent to 10% of construction costs is justified in the amended Build-Operate-Transfer Law.

Sources, however, said the standoff between government officials and ULC can still be resolved after the latter proposed a new scheme to comply with the deficit-neutrality requirement of the Arroyo administration.

The new scheme, if accepted by the government, will authorize the state to withhold payment to ULC of its shares from the MRT-7 rail revenues.

ULC’s annual rate of return of revenues from MRT-7 rail operations is pegged at 11.7%, with any excess revenues to be shared with the government.

ULC’s proposed scheme will be taken upon the ICC meeting next month.

MRT-7 will link Bulacan to EDSA via Commonwealth Avenue. It is expected to save the government some $2.53 billion on oil imports.

Taxes on MRT-7 development can also reach $730 million, on land development at $2.5 billion, and on passengers at $673 million. Taxes that can be collected by local government units from MRT-7 operations are pegged at $74 million.

queetz@home

March 21st, 2006, 05:26 AM

All this ridiculous hardlining is just plain silly. Oh we should just give up hope for any new MRT lines in Metro Manila. What we need is some mega billionaire like Bruce Wayne's dad in Batman Begins and donate much of his wealth to build a rail rapid transit network that would connect the entire metropolis....

ryanr

March 21st, 2006, 06:03 AM

I havent given up yet. The Philippines is a developing country with many problems, so we just need a lot of patience when it comes to big projects like this.

thomasian

March 21st, 2006, 01:07 PM

LRT-2 Gilmore Station:

02.24.06
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b210/ofngol/Photo_022406_001x.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b210/ofngol/Photo_022406_002x.jpg

dancethingy

March 21st, 2006, 02:59 PM

tama ka bustero. We have to be patient. With a little patience one can go far in this country and benefits outweight the shit people go through. MRT7 will happen. I know it will

bustero

March 21st, 2006, 03:50 PM

Of course we will, try to imagine what did not exist 10 years ago and then back to 1980, and you can see how far things have come!

Aaron that's a good lot. 2000 sq.m. someone will put a high rise there someday!

thomasian

March 21st, 2006, 05:55 PM

^^ High-rise right smack infront of the station. :D

Blackraven

March 23rd, 2006, 01:05 PM

JAMAICUS

March 26th, 2006, 08:12 AM

MRT 3 segregating men from elderly, women

By JC BELLO RUIZ

Starting next month, the EDSA-based Metro Rail Transit’s Line 3 (MRT 3) will segregate female, handicapped, children, and elderly passengers from able-bodied male riders for their convenience and welfare.

MRT 3 General Manager and Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Assistant Secretary Roberto Lastimoso said the funds for the segregation program have been approved, paving the way for the implementation of the segregation plan starting April 1.

For the segregation program, females, handicapped passengers (both males and females), senior citizens (both males and females), and children (both males and females) will be given a separate coaches – the first three – of an MRT train.

A similar system is currently being implemented in the Monumento-Baclaran Line 1 of the Light Rail Transit (LRT).

Lastimoso said the system was developed after the MRT 3 management observed the hardships being experienced by female, elderly and handicapped MRT riders during peak hours when MRT trains are jampacked.

"Kawawa naman ang mga babae, lalo ang mga matatanda, lalo kung peak hours. They are mashed, even if its unintentional, dahil sa dami ng pasahero," Lastimoso said.

MRT 3 head of operations, Mike Narca said that with the new system, the females, elderly, handicapped and children passengers will no longer be competing with able-bodied males for seats and slots in the train.

Elevated platforms will be installed at MRT 3 stations to separate passengers and rules will be implemented by a guard armed with a megaphone, Narca said.

Lastimoso, however, said female passengers can still join male passengers if they chooses to do so at the second and third coaches but able-bodied male passengers will not be permited to board the coaches designated for the women and handicapped.

"Ang importante siguro ay hindi natutulak ang mga higit na mahihinang nakatatanda, mga may kapansanan, mga bata at ganun din sa mga babae, ng mga mas malalakas na kalalakihan," Narca said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006032659712.html

Alitaptap

March 28th, 2006, 01:27 AM

DOTC finalizing MRT extension plan
By Sandy Araneta
The Philippine Star 03/28/2006

The design of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) extension project that will connect to the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) in Caloocan City will be finalized soon, according to Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

The design will include a possible construction of a subway station in Monumento. Mendoza said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has hired a consultant who will submit the project design before the end of this month.

The bidding process for the project will immediately follow after the design has been submitted. Mendoza said the MRT extension project could cost some US$200 million in civil works alone because of the construction of a subway in Monumento.

The subway, he said, would be constructed at the targeted connecting point of the MRT-3 and LRT-1 in Monumento for the grand plan of connecting all of Metro Manila’s railway systems. "Kasi ang gagawin natin dito ay gawing grand station ang Caloocan. The Northrail, Southrail, MRT-3 and LRT-1 will meet there," he said.

Once completed, the project will extend the existing MRT-3 line to Monumento in Caloocan from the current end-station on North Avenue in Quezon City. The extension will then link MRT-3 to the LRT-1 via the Monumento station.

The MRT-3 is currently linked to LRT Line 2 (LRT-2) via their respective stations in Cubao, Quezon City. A pedestrian link, on the other hand, connects the LRT-1 to the LRT-2 via the Doroteo Jose station.

The ongoing-NorthRail project starts in Monumento going to Malolos City, Bulacan while the SouthRail also begins in Monumento going to Calamba, Laguna.

Meanwhile, officials of the MRT and LRT announced yesterday there would be no trains operating on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday. This would give way to normal maintenance work on the coaches as well as on signaling, communications and automatic fare collection equipment. Operations resume on Easter Sunday.

stephencua

March 28th, 2006, 02:28 AM

cant wait to see the designs of the 'grand' station in caloocan.. in my mind its going to be massive!

kiretoce

March 28th, 2006, 02:30 AM

^^ It would be a shame if it's called "Grand Station" but in reality it's an itsy-bitsy platform stop for the train. :lol:

bulakenyo

March 28th, 2006, 02:51 AM

I hope the construction of the grand Caloocan station would entail some major sprucing up of the city center. ang dumi dumi kasi. ang gulo tingnan. A grand station wouldn't be much appreciated if it's surrounded by ugly structures. Naku baka paikutan ng bigote signages ni Echeveri yan.

queetz@home

March 28th, 2006, 04:33 AM

tigidig14

March 28th, 2006, 04:37 AM

whose bartman by the way? the guy that posted his picture here with those grrrLLLLlls

queetz@home

March 28th, 2006, 04:39 AM

^ Have you not watched Batman Begins? Batman's dad, using his own money, built the Gotham City Monorail system, their main mass transit line, to unite the city.

http://www.fxguide.com/modules/NewsUpload/files/batman/ga0160_final_0250.jpg

http://www.fxguide.com/modules/NewsUpload/files/batman/ga0160_final_0141.jpg

http://www.fxguide.com/modules/NewsUpload/files/batman/pb0025_0132.jpg

I guess its a bit of an inspiration/dream/fantasy of mine to do for Metro Manila what he did for Gotham City...

Virtute

March 28th, 2006, 04:46 AM

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g57/virtute71/lrt2.jpg

One of the rare pics of a station in LRT-2 Araneta Station - Cubao. This was before the security guard came up to me and said,

"Serrr, serrr, sorry ha, bawal yan mag papiktiur"

Hehehe, my cousin who was with me replied back,

"Bakit, natatakut ka baka kopyahin? LOL

LRT-2 is my favorite line, its cleaner & newer, bigger trains.

xDieselJockx

March 28th, 2006, 04:51 AM

Very nice looking and clean. Good job on this stolen shot Virtute. You can try to sneak another shot again next time.

JChip

March 28th, 2006, 05:01 AM

It would seem that the stand alone project is still the main plan. Quoting the article:

"The bidding process for the project will immediately follow after the design has been submitted. "

A bidding process will only mean that it's not the MRT-3 nor the LRT-1 operator that will definitely build the project although they can bid for it.

JChip

March 28th, 2006, 05:20 AM

Have you not watched Batman Begins? Batman's dad, using his own money, built the Gotham City Monorail system, their main mass transit line, to unite the city.

I guess its a bit of an inspiration/dream/fantasy of mine to do for Metro Manila what he did for Gotham City...

This sounds like Eli Levin. If you watched the interviews on TV you will realize that he's a dreamer who wants to build this rail.

Unfortunately, his dreams go against the economic and financial reality facing the country today.

queetz@home

March 28th, 2006, 05:22 AM

bustero

March 28th, 2006, 05:37 AM

I'm more concerned that they have to spend so much just to put it underground and the fact that the idea of fort boni terminus for north rail is finished. Looks like the Northern Airport rail will now need to start from caloocan! oh well.

ryanr

March 28th, 2006, 05:46 AM

I like this new idea of a "Grand Central station"....but does that mean that the central station planned for BGC is off the table? Caloocan City, is not very "central" and it takes hours to get there if you come from the south. Hard for people who will use northrail as a commuter line and for passengers of DMIA.

dancethingy

March 28th, 2006, 06:00 AM

I really hope this grand central station will be unique, original, and not a BOX!! granted not all boxes are bad, but a concrete box, Heaven help us all.

is it impossible two have two grand terminals? one at caloocan and the other at the Fort? Caloocan will have to go through some major civic rehabilitation if this happens.

ryanr

March 28th, 2006, 06:03 AM

^^ Possible...if they have the money;)

JAMAICUS

March 28th, 2006, 07:39 AM

MRT 3 extension link to LRT 1 worked out

By JC BELLO RUIZ

The design of the EDSA-based Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) extension project that will connect it to the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) in Caloocan City is now being finalized.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the extension project – that will link MRT 3 which runs from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City, to LRT 1 which runs from Baclaran to Monumento in Caloocan City – includes the possible construction of a subway station in Monumento.

Mendoza said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) already has a consultant on board who will submit the project’s design this week.

After the design has been submitted, the bidding process for the project will immediately follow, Mendoza said.

The DoTC chief estimates the cost of civil works alone to reach some 0 million because of the construction of a subway in the Bonifacio Monument area.

"Sa civil works, siguro mga 0 million. Kasi what we intend to do here is we might go underground. Magkakaroon tayo ng subway dito because of some technical problems," Mendoza said.

The subway, he said, would be constructed at the targeted connecting point of the MRT 3 and LRT 1 (Monumento-Baclaran) in Monumento for the grand plan of connecting all Metro Manila’s railway systems.

Once completed, the project will extend the existing MRT 3 line to Monumento in Caloocan from the current end-station at North Avenue in Quezon City. The extension will then link MRT 3 to the LRT 1 via the Monumento Station.

The Taft Avenue, Pasay-North Avenue, QC MRT 3 is currently linked with LRT Line 2 (LRT 2) which runs from Santolan in Pasig to Recto Avenue in Manila, via the two railway systems’ stations in Cubao, Quezon City.

A pedestrian link connects the LRT 1 to the LRT 2 via the Doroteo Jose station.

The ongoing NorthRail project meanwhile starts in Monumento going to Malolos City, Bulacan, the same with the SouthRail which also begins in Monumento going to Calamba, Laguna.

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/03/28/MTNN2006032859965.html

KiBeN

March 28th, 2006, 07:55 AM

good news :)

bustero

March 28th, 2006, 09:16 AM

^^ I especially like the fact that it's free:)

amras

March 28th, 2006, 02:56 PM

0 million... lol...

richard24

March 28th, 2006, 06:23 PM

not another ones of those o millions... :lol: and thank god... the thing that i've been asking for is now answered... :) both north and southrail will start in caloocan... :) hooray!

le Reine

March 28th, 2006, 10:23 PM

At last but what do they mean by 0 million? How come? Weird...

ryanr

March 29th, 2006, 01:12 AM

$200-M, partly underground rail to link MRT and LRT-1
Posted: 2:59 AM | Mar. 29, 2006

THE Department of Transportation and Communication is finalizing the design of a rail system that will link the overhead Metro Rail Transit (MRT) that runs along the EDSA highway 3 with Line 1 of the overhead Light Rail Transit (LRT) from North Avenue in Quezon City to the Monumento area of Caloocan City, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza said.

Up to $200 million will be needed for the civil works phase, Mendoza said.

The 5.12-kilometer rail link, dubbed MRT Phase 2, will have underground sections in the northern portions of EDSA to avoid existing structures, he said. "We will have a subway because of some technical problems," he said

Mendoza said the Department of Transportation and Communications had hired a consultant, the Louis Berger group, which he said was tasked to submit the project's design before end-March.

Louis Berger is a US-based engineering consulting firm that at present has major contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan for the American government, he said.

Mendoza said the Monumento station would become the central railway station linking LRT-1 with the MRT and the proposed ground-level North Rail, which will connect Metro Manila with Bulacan province.

He said that eventually a South Rail system that would link Metro Manila with southern Luzon would also have its terminal at the Monumento station, which he described as the future "Grand Central" station of the Philippines.

Once Louis Berger has submitted its design proposal, bidding for MRT Phase 2 will follow, he said.

The MRT is linked by pedestrian access in the Cubao area of Quezon City with Line 2 of the LRT. A pedestrian link also connects LRT-1 to LRT-2 at a station on Doroteo Jose Street in Manila. A similar pedestrian link connects the MRT with the LRT-1 at the stations at the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay City. Daxim Lucas, with INQ7.net

Sounds good to me.:)

le Reine

March 29th, 2006, 01:12 AM

This is the LRT/MRT Southrail-Northrail plan:

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/images/srts%20map.jpg

queetz@home

March 29th, 2006, 02:23 AM

So I guess we will somehow find out this week what the designs are, eh?

This may sound a really stupid question but I really need some clarity. Since the extension is called, "MRT phase 2" and the title of the article is "MRT3 extension"..., does that mean actually extending the existing guideway of MRT3 from North Ave to Monumento? Man! Please make it so! ANYTHING but that stupid 6 km stand alone system! Note the article also said 5.12 km, not 6.8 km!!!! ;)

For reference, below is the link to the original article of that GOD awful stand alone system, Edsa North Transit. NOTE THE DIFFERENCE IN COSTS AND LENGTH!!! :yes:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=7471215&postcount=303

xDieselJockx

March 29th, 2006, 03:09 AM

I wonder if they have plans to extend these MRT/LRT project up to Alabang and Muntinlupa area. Does anybody know anything about these possibilities? Or is it the Southrail project is it? Anybody???

queetz@home

March 29th, 2006, 03:29 AM

^ I thought LRT 6 (aka LRT1 extension) is going to Muntinlupa? If not, be nice if it could but the priority right now is a seamless integration of MRT3 and LRT1. :yes:

KiBeN

March 29th, 2006, 04:21 AM

I wonder if they have plans to extend these MRT/LRT project up to Alabang and Muntinlupa area. Does anybody know anything about these possibilities? Or is it the Southrail project is it? Anybody???

^^ I think it is southrail project.

richard24

March 29th, 2006, 04:33 AM

imposible naman na stand alone line yan... ang pangit non.

i hope that grand central station would live up to being "grand".. :)

DoggMann

March 29th, 2006, 05:49 AM

sana matuloy ito ... :)

http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2006&mon=03&dd=29&file=1

$200-M, partly underground rail to link MRT and LRT-1
Posted: 2:59 AM | Mar. 29, 2006

THE Department of Transportation and Communication is finalizing the design of a rail system that will link the overhead Metro Rail Transit (MRT) that runs along the EDSA highway 3 with Line 1 of the overhead Light Rail Transit (LRT) from North Avenue in Quezon City to the Monumento area of Caloocan City, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza said.

Up to $200 million will be needed for the civil works phase, Mendoza said.

The 5.12-kilometer rail link, dubbed MRT Phase 2, will have underground sections in the northern portions of EDSA to avoid existing structures, he said. "We will have a subway because of some technical problems," he said

Mendoza said the Department of Transportation and Communications had hired a consultant, the Louis Berger group, which he said was tasked to submit the project's design before end-March.

Louis Berger is a US-based engineering consulting firm that at present has major contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan for the American government, he said.

Mendoza said the Monumento station would become the central railway station linking LRT-1 with the MRT and the proposed ground-level North Rail, which will connect Metro Manila with Bulacan province.

He said that eventually a South Rail system that would link Metro Manila with southern Luzon would also have its terminal at the Monumento station, which he described as the future "Grand Central" station of the Philippines.

Once Louis Berger has submitted its design proposal, bidding for MRT Phase 2 will follow, he said.

The MRT is linked by pedestrian access in the Cubao area of Quezon City with Line 2 of the LRT. A pedestrian link also connects LRT-1 to LRT-2 at a station on Doroteo Jose Street in Manila. A similar pedestrian link connects the MRT with the LRT-1 at the stations at the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay City. Daxim Lucas, with INQ7.net

JChip

March 29th, 2006, 11:18 AM

This is the LRT/MRT Southrail-Northrail plan:

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/images/srts%20map.jpg

I think these pics are somewhat dated. PNR will never operate Northrail. In fact, BCDA is the GOCC undertaking this project.

Southrail remains a pipe dream for now.

PNR should have been privatized a long time ago so that it's service would improve. Right now, it's worthless as a company.

JChip

March 29th, 2006, 11:26 AM

^ Why am I not surprised that JChip would bash people who want to make the country better by providing much needed rail transit and at the same time, actually want that God awful 6 km stand alone system to be built instead of the more sensible MRT3 extension for a seamless system. Are you Randall O'Toole posing as a Philippine forumer? :mad:

Wally, I'm not the one making plans here, OK? I only read the news like you do. The decision makers at DOTC in their infinite wisdom deem it necessary to have the 6-km standalone system.

IMO, the DOTC people are one of the most corrupt, incompetent government employees around. Who knows what devil whispered into their ears to have this 6-km system?

BTW, who's this Randall guy? Is he your best friend? ;)

sandrin

March 29th, 2006, 08:06 PM

Big-ticket infra projects for private funding drawn up
By CHERYL M. ARCIBAL, The Manila Times Reporter

The Philippines may offer to the private sector a number of big-ticket infrastructure projects, including the second phase of Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3), the extension of MRT2, the LRT Line 1 South Extension, the modernization of the Laoag International Airport and the extension of the Philippine National Railway SouthRail Line from Legazpi to Sorsogon, according to an official of the National Economic and Development Authority.

Ruben Reinoso, NEDA director for infrastructure, said the government’s fiscal straits may prevent it from funding all the projects lined up for the next four years, especially since the funding requirement of the Medium-Term Public Investment Plan (MTPIP) doubled after many agencies lobbied for the inclusion of their pet projects.

From an original bill of P588 billion, the funds required by the MTPIP rose to P1.1 trillion, the NEDA official said.

"Because the government has no money to fund these projects, [they] would have to be offered to the private sector for implementation. These projects that would be offered to the private sector are those projects that have cash flows such as toll roads, rail, airports, some water supply and digital infrastructure or telecommunications in particular," he said.

"These projects have cash flows and they have a potential for the private sector to come in because their investments could be recovered from the revenues that would be generated," he explained.

"We want these projects to be implemented because they are critical [but] we will have to develop the projects first and find out through more detailed analysis including the viability of the projects. We will bid it out as build-operate-transfer or through concession," he added.

Reinoso said the interagency NEDA Infrastructure Committee met last Monday to discuss the proposed additional projects. The committee gave all agencies two weeks to submit their final list of projects.

"Right now, based on our fiscal target, what the government can absorb is about P588 billion which includes transport, roads and bridges, ports and airports, water supply, sanitation, some rehabilitation of transmission projects for energy and some rehabilitation and upgrading of hydroelectric plants in Mindanao," he said.

The NEDA official said the government would keep the present list of projects under the MTPIP, noting their significance to propel the economy’s growth. Government spending for infrastructure stands at only 2 percent of economic output.

stephencua

March 30th, 2006, 04:51 AM

taken from philstar.com..

Mandaluyong now owns 3 MRT stations
By Sandy Araneta
The Philippine Star 03/30/2006

The Mandaluyong City government is the new owner of the Ortigas, Shaw and Boni stations of the Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) after the properties were forfeited during a public bidding last Friday due to non-payment of real property taxes.

In a statement issued yesterday by the city of Mandaluyong, lawyer Eddie Fernandez, city legal department chief, said the MRTC has one year to redeem the properties before the local government officially consolidates full ownership of the three rail stations of the MRT-3.

He said this was based on Chapter 6, Section 263 of the Local Government Code.

Fernandez said the law also states that the MRTC must settle its six-year (2000 to 2006) obligations, totalling P1.488 billion, with the local treasurer. These include the interest and the cost of sale.

"Should the MRTC fail to redeem the property, the ownership thereof shall be fully vested on the Mandaluyong City government," Fernandez said.

On Dec. 5, 2005, the MRTC asked the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court to nullify the city government’s demand for tax payment.

However, the court denied the request for a temporary restraining order.

Mandaluyong Mayor Neptali Gonzales II said that had the MRTC paid its obligations to the local government, various infrastructure projects and educational programs could have been implemented for the people.

Apart from Mandaluyong, local governments of Makati, Quezon City and Pasay are also asserting their tax rights to the stations, which were established in their respective localities, the Mandaluyong City government said.

MRT operations started in 2000 under a build-lease-transfer (BLT) scheme during the administration of then President Joseph Estrada.

In a phone interview with The Star, MRT spokesman Ronilo Hermes Bacolod said they will appeal the decision of the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court.

They will also be filing a motion for reconsideration, through the Office of the Solicitor General.

Bacolod said the MRTC also needs the legal opinion of the Department of Justice or the Supreme Court in connection with the payment of taxes.

renell

March 30th, 2006, 06:36 AM

Hmm... so the MRTC runs the whole system, but the local governments own the stations? :crazy:

ryanr

March 30th, 2006, 06:38 AM

^^ bureaucracy.:D

JChip

March 30th, 2006, 06:47 AM

MRTC's position is that it is not supposed to pay Real Property Taxes to the LGUs because the DOTC runs the MRT-3. As part of the National Government, the DOTC does not pay RPTs.

DOTC's explaination is really a stretch of imagination (they're not really running the system, they just oversee it). However, it was accepted as part of the contract years ago. I wonder why no one flagged this out during the contract review for MRT-3.

bustero

March 30th, 2006, 07:42 AM

They should have fixed this a long time ago in terms of legislation now they want to turn this into a court case and it's going to get messy. The ironic part is that it's best to let local governement fund the lrt/mrt projects as done in most countries, that way it's not a national account. In this case the MM cities get a free ride and still try to charge for extra taxes. The National goverment should just turn it over to the local government and let them use their surpluses to fund the system's deficit.

richard24

March 30th, 2006, 04:20 PM

richard24

April 2nd, 2006, 12:05 PM

http://i2.tinypic.com/suy45x.jpg

Pureza Station(LRT2)... I use this everyday.. :)

bulakenyo

April 3rd, 2006, 07:00 PM

I can't get enough of The Megatren! Napakaganda talaga.

I'm not sure if this link had been posted already.
Anyway, post ko na lang din. heheehehe!

www.lrta.gov.ph/line2_megatren.htm

KiBeN

April 3rd, 2006, 07:04 PM

LRT2 is better than MRT, When I see LRT2, it reminds me the MTR of Hong-Kong

daDJ

April 4th, 2006, 02:01 AM

i agree

richard24

April 4th, 2006, 03:48 AM

LRT2 is better than MRT, When I see LRT2, it reminds me the MTR of Hong-Kong

way better. the one in edsa needs some getting used to. the first time i actually used the mrt3 i got a bit lost. kinailangan ko pa magtanong sa mga manong. :lol:

in the lrt2... even if you are a 7 year old kid... you wont get lost.. (well, unless you know how to read.)

KiBeN

April 4th, 2006, 07:01 AM

dapat maging example ang LRT 2, sa LRT1 and MRT, para mas gumanda ang mga railways natin, especially the stations... Kaylan ba gagawin yung MRT sa commonwealth? tagal na nun ah...

richard24

April 4th, 2006, 11:11 AM

maybe your kids will be lucky enough to be able to use that line...
baka lumilipad na ang tren sa vietnam wla pa ung tren na yan.

wag naman,...

sana maabutan pa natin sa lifetime natin. :) :) :)

ishtefh_03

April 6th, 2006, 07:12 AM

pics of the ongoing renovation at lrt-1 d jose station... i dunno kung recent lng to o dati pa... nakita ko lng sa folder ng brother eh.. (nakikialam sa files nya)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e345/ishtefh_03/others/OngoingRemovalofCasingforBP5alongGL.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e345/ishtefh_03/others/OngoingBoredPileDrillingforBP4along.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e345/ishtefh_03/others/ExcavationatEastPHAatDoroteoJoseSta.jpg

ewh1

April 6th, 2006, 08:47 AM

That station is getting expanded and renovated right? i remember seeing something on some sort of station or capacity expansion thats happening in LRT but forgot were

richard24

April 6th, 2006, 10:57 AM

ayan na... aayusin na ang mga station ng lrt1... buti pa sila... eh ung nasa edsa. kawawa naman... hehehe...

matagal ko na nakikita ung construction sa tabi ng d jose... d ko lang alam kung anong magiging itsura nun... walang rendering sa bakod or something eh....
kundi ako nagkakamali, hindi lang ito ang inaayos... i believe other stations are also undergoing this... (i hope) sana in the near (near?) future the stations here would look like the ones in lrt2....
wag na tayong umasang papagandahin pa ung sa edsa.. :lol:

ishtefh_03

April 6th, 2006, 12:50 PM

^^ my plan naman sila na ayusin lahat eh... ung sa d jose station matagal a nga yan pero ang plan nila matapos by november 2006

_zner_

April 6th, 2006, 02:22 PM

magkakaron pa ba tlaga ng mrt/lrt sa commonwealth? i doubt.. kahit na nagwawidening na sila, the traffic is still bad..

KiBeN

April 6th, 2006, 02:45 PM

hindi pa ba tapos yung road - widening ng Commonwealth, kasi baka kapag natapos na yun, baka gawin na nila yung mrt sa commonwealth, tanong ko lang, subway ba or hindi? kasi parang mas maganda yun kung subway eh, tsaka san part sa daan ba gagawin? sa may mismong island ulit? edi nag-puputol-putol nanaman sila ng puno dun...

Francis20

April 6th, 2006, 07:08 PM

tracks will be above ground. no section will go underground along Commonwealth.

KiBeN

April 6th, 2006, 08:06 PM

sayang, gusto ko pa naman may part na subway, pero ok na din para may view naman.

bagel

April 6th, 2006, 08:09 PM

Isn't it also bahain along Commonwealth?

I think at the moment, while aesthetically, underground rail is really preferred, the cost of doing such construction is way too much. At any rate, I think that having an LRT line, even if it is above ground outweighs the possibility of having either no LRT line, or worse, an underground unfinished LRT line due to lack of budget.

Too bad that the technologies for a sleek looking line like the Sta. Mesa LRT2 did not exist when LRT1 was built over Taft.

Too bad EDSA MRT was skimped with and was given at grade construction. I think this is the worst of all worlds of LRT planning.

bustero

April 7th, 2006, 04:07 AM

^^totot

I don't remember any part in commonwealth with baha though but you may know more as it's your specialty:)

bagel

April 7th, 2006, 04:56 AM

^^ Oh I don't know if bahain ang Commonwealth.. Kaya I'm unsure of that statement. Ang alam ko na baha ay ang baha sa Maynila at ang baha sa Makati. Doon ako lagi nastrand.

KiBeN

April 7th, 2006, 06:30 AM

alam ko, sa commonwealth, I've experienced a traffic scene and biglang umulan ng malakas, at biglang naging foggy, ma-misty, walang makita, we were in University ave sa UP, and biglang umiiwas yung mga cars sa bandang side-walk, kasi bumaha, ang laki nga ng baha, siguro hindi pantay yung daa, dahil sa sobrang wide, or for sure yung drainage yung sira panigurado.

richard24

April 7th, 2006, 06:52 AM

if i'm not mistaken the new line that will run from north edsa till bulacan has an underground part in north ave till philcoa.. underground station ung city hall. pero tama, no underground part whatsoever in commonwealth..

pau_p1

April 7th, 2006, 08:31 AM

yup I've read somewhere that City Hall station will be underground... I think the the rail line will go underground when it approach the Quezon Memorial Circle.....

nope.. I haven't experienced any flooding along the Commonwealth Ave... if there was.. it wasn't as bad as that of Espana's.... I guess that overflow of water seen by Kiben was due to the lack of proper sewerage on the road... only a few parts of the avenue actually have a drainage spot... anyways... the avenue generally run on high ground....

I hope they do start the MRT7 soon..

ThisFire

April 7th, 2006, 08:39 AM

^ I thought LRT 6 (aka LRT1 extension) is going to Muntinlupa? If not, be nice if it could but the priority right now is a seamless integration of MRT3 and LRT1. :yes:

^ That's what I've been thinking. :) Just a question to all, who here can say they take the subway/trains in Metro Manila the most?

pau_p1

April 7th, 2006, 09:07 AM

I ride the MRT everyday going to office...

richard24

April 9th, 2006, 08:38 AM

i dont actually know what to do witrhout them... i take the lrt2 everyday to go to school...

another pic of the pureza station... :)

http://i2.tinypic.com/tafrj7.jpg

ianers_ianized

April 9th, 2006, 12:37 PM

sna magkaron mg mrt that will link to the new airport NAIS T3 para hindi mahirap sa mga nagcocommute na papunta ng airport or ssundo... tsaka mura sa MRT. Tsaka para ka-level na rin ntn ang singrapore, narita and others sa pagkakaroon ng transport sa mga airport.

JustHorace

April 9th, 2006, 02:16 PM

^^Yeah, sana nga meron.

Hindi makikita ung sky 'pag meron ng el train sa Comm. Ave. Dami na kasing pedestrian overpass dun tapos patatayuan pa ng elevated u-turn slots..
And it should be underground when it comes to Fairview na. Part of Commonwealth in Fairview is narrow. It might end up like Taft Ave. Residential Area pa naman doon..

pau_p1

April 9th, 2006, 03:00 PM

yeah.. I think that Fairview Ave section of Commonwealth should be underground.. since I doubt that the Fairview Homeowners would ok expansion of the Avenue.. and it appears that Fairview Ave will not grow to 10 lanes because of that area being residential and there are already establishments there...

stephencua

April 10th, 2006, 03:02 AM

taken from abs-cbnnews.com.. looks like theres alot of noise about the LRT/MRT lines.. :)

July bidding set for LRT 1 south extension

By DARWIN G. AMOJELAR
The Manila Times Reporter

The Arroyo administration plans to bid out the southbound extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) in July, with the Department of Budget and Management (DMB) set to release money to pay the project’s former proponent, an official said.

"We expect the DBM will release the $5 million this month to pay SNC Lavalin [International Inc.] and we will call [for a bidding] by July this year and probably by end of the year we will award the project to the winning bidder," Danilo S. Tolentino, LRT 1 project manager, told The Manila Times.

Tolentino said the $5 million was secured from the national government’s savings, with another $5 million earlier paid by state-run Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA).

The LRTA board earlier approved the termination of the amended and restated settlement agreement with SNC Lavalin in view of the failure of both parties to agree on the amendment to the joint venture and implementation agreements.

Based on the amended and restated settlement agreement, the LRTA has to pay the Canadian proponent half of the $20-million developmental cost.

Tolentino said the winning bidder would reimburse the developmental cost.

The LRTA plans to submit the project to the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordinating Committee (NEDA-ICC) for approval as an unsolicited proposal, he said.

If approved, then construction of the LRT south extension will start by June next year.

Earlier, Melquiades Robles, LRTA administrator, said the project would be operational three year after construction.

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.

The LRT 1 extension project would cost about $841.486 million. Of this amount, $442.118 million would go to electro-mechanical works; $371.368 million, civil works; and $38 million, land development.

The Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study earlier identified the project, which will run through southern Metro Manila to Cavite, as an integral part of the Rail Transit Network. The LRT 1 extension is a flagship project of the Office of the President and a priority project of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the LRTA.

Govt extends Edsa

Transit to Malabon

In a related development, the government has extended the planned Edsa North Transit (ENT) project to Tugatog, Malabon, from the previous proposal of stretching it only up to Caloocan City, a DOTC official said.

The ENT project replaces the proposed Metro Rail Transit Line 3 extension.

In a briefing, Assistant Secretary Roberto Castanares said the new extension is aimed at easing traffic congestion in the area.

The new proposal, which involves putting up three additional stations and 3.2 kilometers of underground works, would raise the project cost to $400 million from an earlier estimate of $300 million, he said.

The nine stations include North Triangle, Bansalangin, Roosevelt, Kaingin, Balintawak, General Malvar, Monumento, Caloocan West and Tugatog.

Castanares said bidding for the ENT project will be held next month as a solicited proposal.

Under the solicited mode, the government develops the project study, and may extend sovereign guarantee to the winning bidder. "It’s allowed to subsidize or pay the total amount of the project," Castanares said.

Companies from Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Europe have expressed interest in the project, he said, adding that these interested firms are already operating in the Philippines.

Construction, which would begin next year barring any glitch, has two phases, with the first to include six stations from North Triangle to Monumento at a cost of about $300 million. The second phase involving the last three stations would cost $100 million.

The project is expected to serve at least 300,000 passengers a day by 2010, the first year of operation, before rising to 650,000 by 2020.

The ENT project will link the two existing lines, the MRT 3, which traverses Edsa, and the LRT Line 1, which runs from Monumento to Baclaran.

Castanares said the ENT project will also provide a link between the NorthRail and SouthRail projects.

queetz@home

April 10th, 2006, 05:02 AM

^ First and foremost, good news on the progress of LRT 1. I'm glad at least one LRT extension that makes sense in Metro Manila has a timeline.

Second, I cannot believe that f*cking ENT is still alive. The previous articles specifically indicated MRT3 extensions at a much lower cost! See the latest one below...

http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2006&mon=03&dd=29&file=1

$200-M, partly underground rail to link MRT and LRT-1
Posted: 2:59 AM | Mar. 29, 2006

THE Department of Transportation and Communication is finalizing the design of a rail system that will link the overhead Metro Rail Transit (MRT) that runs along the EDSA highway 3 with Line 1 of the overhead Light Rail Transit (LRT) from North Avenue in Quezon City to the Monumento area of Caloocan City, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza said.

Up to $200 million will be needed for the civil works phase, Mendoza said.

The 5.12-kilometer rail link, dubbed MRT Phase 2, will have underground sections in the northern portions of EDSA to avoid existing structures, he said. "We will have a subway because of some technical problems," he said

Mendoza said the Department of Transportation and Communications had hired a consultant, the Louis Berger group, which he said was tasked to submit the project's design before end-March.

Louis Berger is a US-based engineering consulting firm that at present has major contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan for the American government, he said.

Mendoza said the Monumento station would become the central railway station linking LRT-1 with the MRT and the proposed ground-level North Rail, which will connect Metro Manila with Bulacan province.

He said that eventually a South Rail system that would link Metro Manila with southern Luzon would also have its terminal at the Monumento station, which he described as the future "Grand Central" station of the Philippines.

Once Louis Berger has submitted its design proposal, bidding for MRT Phase 2 will follow, he said.

The MRT is linked by pedestrian access in the Cubao area of Quezon City with Line 2 of the LRT. A pedestrian link also connects LRT-1 to LRT-2 at a station on Doroteo Jose Street in Manila. A similar pedestrian link connects the MRT with the LRT-1 at the stations at the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay City. Daxim Lucas, with INQ7.net

So what the bloody hell is going on????? Are we back at f*cked up land???? :mad2:

ryanr

April 10th, 2006, 05:22 AM

Well it does answer our speculation on how they plan to link the monumento MRT/LRT interchange with Northrail. And i like this proposal of further extending the line to Malabon. But I agree with Wally, cant they just extend MRT3 all the way to Monumento and add those 3 additional stations to Malabon on the same line, instead of a different ENT line?

KiBeN

April 10th, 2006, 09:03 AM

Extend na din nila yung MRT sa taft station going to SM Moa...

ryanr

April 10th, 2006, 09:06 AM

Extend na din nila yung MRT sa taft station going to SM Moa...

I dont think that is possible. They already made a mistake of building the MRT3 at-grade all the way to Taft ave. Hard to extend it past line 1. I believe LRTA mentioned that it cannot be done. Dont quote me though, my memory might be playing tricks on me.

richard24

April 10th, 2006, 09:13 AM

nalilito nako kung ano ba talaga ang ilalagay nila jan sa mrt3... stand alone line o physical extension talaga?!? nakakalito naman sila... sana dirediretso nalang na physically connected... as in dirediresto ung tren from taft to malabon... weird naman kung bababa ka pa sa north edsa... weird.

ryanr

April 10th, 2006, 09:16 AM

^If its the ENT, then its stand alone. If they do the original proposal, then extention of line 3. They still havent confirmed which one they will actually do.

JAMAICUS

April 10th, 2006, 09:18 AM

Sorry for the stupid queastion but what is EMT?

normandb

April 10th, 2006, 09:21 AM

Electro Magnetic Top parang sa Voltes V :D

richard24

April 10th, 2006, 09:22 AM

edsa north transit

ryanr

April 10th, 2006, 09:24 AM

Sorry for the stupid queastion but what is EMT?

My bad..its ENT, not EMT:D
EDSA NORTH TRANSIT

richard24

April 10th, 2006, 09:25 AM

"In a related development, the government has extended the planned Edsa North Transit (ENT) project to Tugatog, Malabon, from the previous proposal of stretching it only up to Caloocan City, a DOTC official said."

---------------------------------------
according to this article.

amras

April 10th, 2006, 11:22 AM

^If its the ENT, then its stand alone. If they do the original proposal, then extention of line 3. They still havent confirmed which one they will actually do.

i hope they would just extend it rather than building a separate line, coz that's stupid budget-wise. they could just use the extra money for upgrading the existing line 3 (ie cleaning up the stations, ticket vending machines, more barrier gates, etc.).

JAMAICUS

April 10th, 2006, 11:30 AM

July bidding set for LRT 1 south extension

By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter

THE Arroyo administration plans to bid out the southbound extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) in July, with the Department of Budget and Management (DMB) set to release money to pay the project’s former proponent, an official said.

“We expect the DBM will release the $5 million this month to pay SNC Lavalin [International Inc.] and we will call [for a bidding] by July this year and probably by end of the year we will award the project to the winning bidder,” Danilo S. Tolentino, LRT 1 project manager, told The Manila Times.

Tolentino said the $5 million was secured from the national government’s savings, with another $5 million earlier paid by state-run Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA).

The LRTA board earlier approved the termination of the amended and restated settlement agreement with SNC Lavalin in view of the failure of both parties to agree on the amendment to the joint venture and implementation agreements.

Based on the amended and restated settlement agreement, the LRTA has to pay the Canadian proponent half of the $20-million developmental cost.

Tolentino said the winning bidder would reimburse the developmental cost.

The LRTA plans to submit the project to the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordinating Committee (NEDA-ICC) for approval as an unsolicited proposal, he said.

If approved, then construction of the LRT south extension will start by June next year.

Earlier, Melquiades Robles, LRTA administrator, said the project would be operational three year after construction.

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.

The LRT 1 extension project would cost about $841.486 million. Of this amount, $442.118 million would go to electro-mechanical works; $371.368 million, civil works; and $38 million, land development.

The Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study earlier identified the project, which will run through southern Metro Manila to Cavite, as an integral part of the Rail Transit Network. The LRT 1 extension is a flagship project of the Office of the President and a priority project of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the LRTA.

Govt extends Edsa Transit to Malabon

In a related development, the government has extended the planned Edsa North Transit (ENT) project to Tugatog, Malabon, from the previous proposal of stretching it only up to Caloocan City, a DOTC official said.

The ENT project replaces the proposed Metro Rail Transit Line 3 extension.

In a briefing, Assistant Secretary Roberto Castanares said the new extension is aimed at easing traffic congestion in the area.

The new proposal, which involves putting up three additional stations and 3.2 kilometers of underground works, would raise the project cost to $400 million from an earlier estimate of $300 million, he said.

The nine stations include North Triangle, Bansalangin, Roosevelt, Kaingin, Balintawak, General Malvar, Monumento, Caloocan West and Tugatog.

Castanares said bidding for the ENT project will be held next month as a solicited proposal.

Under the solicited mode, the government develops the project study, and may extend sovereign guarantee to the winning bidder. “It’s allowed to subsidize or pay the total amount of the project,” Castanares said.

Companies from Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Europe have expressed interest in the project, he said, adding that these interested firms are already operating in the Philippines.

Construction, which would begin next year barring any glitch, has two phases, with the first to include six stations from North Triangle to Monumento at a cost of about $300 million. The second phase involving the last three stations would cost $100 million.

The project is expected to serve at least 300,000 passengers a day by 2010, the first year of operation, before rising to 650,000 by 2020.

The ENT project will link the two existing lines, the MRT 3, which traverses Edsa, and the LRT Line 1, which runs from Monumento to Baclaran.

Castanares said the ENT project will also provide a link between the NorthRail and SouthRail projects.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/apr/10/yehey/business/20060410bus6.html

stephencua

April 10th, 2006, 11:34 AM

^^ i posted the same article above.. :P

pau_p1

April 10th, 2006, 11:51 AM

for me.. I'd say that.. they should just connect the ENT directly to MRT7 which will stop at the North Triangle too... instead of having 3 terminals for 3 different lines on that corner of EDSA... with that MRT7 will be extended to Caloocan... it would be like connecting the 2 portions of Caloocan.. hehehe...

MirageBistro

April 10th, 2006, 04:42 PM

With less-stress-nice airconditioners :)

MirageBistro

April 10th, 2006, 04:43 PM

show them filipino-power
show those box-minded anglo saxons how good we are compared to them exotic places

MirageBistro

April 10th, 2006, 04:45 PM

what type of locomotive are they going to use for the the new extension?
Is it still the the old orange one?

AH-7Raja

April 10th, 2006, 05:44 PM

nice

mygz14

April 10th, 2006, 06:34 PM

Metro Rail Transit 7 bidding to proceed next week

Article posted April 11, 2006, 10:08 am
REPORT FROM BUSINESS WORLD

The Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) has ordered the bidding of Metro Rail Transit 7 (MRT-7) to break the deadlock between government officials and proponent Universal LRT Corp. Ltd. (ULC) on the project’s approval.

MRT-7 is a five-year old proposal of ULC to build a 17-km, $1.235-billion railway that will transport as many as 800,000 passengers daily from Bulacan to North Avenue on EDSA.

Its approval, however, had been snagged by differing opinions of government officials and ULC on the amount of performance bond needed to secure the state from subsidizing the railway’s projected debts.

Government officials had wanted ULC to post bonds worth $1.899 billion -- the amount of the project’s projected debts -- either in cash or every three years over its proposed 25-year concession period. But ULC had been willing to post a performance bond worth only $393.5 million, or 10% of both the construction and real-estate development components of the project. ULC’s proposed bond amount consists of $123.5 million for the construction cost and $270 million for the real-estate development cost.

Transportation Assistant Sec. Roberto R. Castañares said yesterday that ICC ordered the Transportation department last April 4 to subject MRT-7 to a Swiss Challenge beginning next week. Swiss Challenge is the bidding process that gives ULC, by virtue of its status as original project proponent of MRT-7, the right to match the best bid for the project.

Mr. Castañares said bidders could win in the Swiss Challenge if they could top the offer of ULC in terms of internal rate of return (IRR), project cost, government advances, business plan to make the project deficit neutral, and ULC’s performance bond.

CONDITIONS

To date, ULC has proposed an IRR of 11.7% with excess railway revenues to be equally shared with the government. Project cost of the railway stands at $1.235 billion. The government will funnel an annual $108-million advances for the first 10 years of MRT-7 operations but it will collect revenues of $4.4 billion from the 11th-25th year of operations.

ULC’s business plan states that it will develop 7,300 residential units, 900 office units, and a 90,000-square meter gross mall area in a 195-hectare estate in Bulacan, tax revenues from which will be used to partly fund railway operations.

Mr. Castañares said that the result of the Swiss Challenge will be submitted for further evaluation of the ICC, which will be the one to award the MRT-7 project to winning bidders.

"The whole bidding process will take about three to four months from April. We will open the bid after Holy Week. If there will be smooth bidding, meaning if there will be no challengers to ULC, construction of MRT-7 will happen one year from now while financial closing should be completed by December 2006. If a bidder can better [sic] the offer of ULC, bidding process will be extended by six months, at the most. Right now though, we feel that ULC has an advantage because of its real-estate component," Mr. Castañares said.

MRT-7 is expected to save the government some $2.53 billion in oil imports as more commuters shift from fuel-driven buses to the electricity-powered trains. Taxes on MRT-7 development can also reach $730 million, on land development at $2.5 billion, and on passengers at $673 million. Taxes that can be collected by local government units from MRT-7 operations are pegged at $74 million. -- Kerlyn G. Bautista / Business World

JAMAICUS

April 10th, 2006, 06:40 PM

^^ Do you have a subscription to Business World? If you do, please go to here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=7982219#post7982219

richard24

April 10th, 2006, 06:42 PM

woohoo bidding will start for MRT7... this means this project is really going to happen soon... and in fact its sooner than i expected...
at first... even if they said this would happen soon, i really doubted that... but by these recent developments... ahhhhh! thank god!

ryanr

April 10th, 2006, 11:39 PM

Time for a new thread!:)

ryanr

April 10th, 2006, 11:40 PM

The Metro Manila MRT/LRT Thread V

1Metro Manila MRT/LRT Lines I (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=96027)
2Metro Manila MRT/LRT Lines II (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=193651)
3Metro Manila MRT/LRT Lines III (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=290046)
4Metro Manila MRT/LRT Lines IV (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=337196)

Latest news from the last thread:
Metro Rail Transit 7 bidding to proceed next week

Article posted April 11, 2006, 10:08 am
REPORT FROM BUSINESS WORLD

The Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) has ordered the bidding of Metro Rail Transit 7 (MRT-7) to break the deadlock between government officials and proponent Universal LRT Corp. Ltd. (ULC) on the project’s approval.

MRT-7 is a five-year old proposal of ULC to build a 17-km, $1.235-billion railway that will transport as many as 800,000 passengers daily from Bulacan to North Avenue on EDSA.

Its approval, however, had been snagged by differing opinions of government officials and ULC on the amount of performance bond needed to secure the state from subsidizing the railway’s projected debts.

Government officials had wanted ULC to post bonds worth $1.899 billion -- the amount of the project’s projected debts -- either in cash or every three years over its proposed 25-year concession period. But ULC had been willing to post a performance bond worth only $393.5 million, or 10% of both the construction and real-estate development components of the project. ULC’s proposed bond amount consists of $123.5 million for the construction cost and $270 million for the real-estate development cost.

Transportation Assistant Sec. Roberto R. Castañares said yesterday that ICC ordered the Transportation department last April 4 to subject MRT-7 to a Swiss Challenge beginning next week. Swiss Challenge is the bidding process that gives ULC, by virtue of its status as original project proponent of MRT-7, the right to match the best bid for the project.

Mr. Castañares said bidders could win in the Swiss Challenge if they could top the offer of ULC in terms of internal rate of return (IRR), project cost, government advances, business plan to make the project deficit neutral, and ULC’s performance bond.

CONDITIONS

To date, ULC has proposed an IRR of 11.7% with excess railway revenues to be equally shared with the government. Project cost of the railway stands at $1.235 billion. The government will funnel an annual $108-million advances for the first 10 years of MRT-7 operations but it will collect revenues of $4.4 billion from the 11th-25th year of operations.

ULC’s business plan states that it will develop 7,300 residential units, 900 office units, and a 90,000-square meter gross mall area in a 195-hectare estate in Bulacan, tax revenues from which will be used to partly fund railway operations.

Mr. Castañares said that the result of the Swiss Challenge will be submitted for further evaluation of the ICC, which will be the one to award the MRT-7 project to winning bidders.

"The whole bidding process will take about three to four months from April. We will open the bid after Holy Week. If there will be smooth bidding, meaning if there will be no challengers to ULC, construction of MRT-7 will happen one year from now while financial closing should be completed by December 2006. If a bidder can better [sic] the offer of ULC, bidding process will be extended by six months, at the most. Right now though, we feel that ULC has an advantage because of its real-estate component," Mr. Castañares said.

MRT-7 is expected to save the government some $2.53 billion in oil imports as more commuters shift from fuel-driven buses to the electricity-powered trains. Taxes on MRT-7 development can also reach $730 million, on land development at $2.5 billion, and on passengers at $673 million. Taxes that can be collected by local government units from MRT-7 operations are pegged at $74 million. -- Kerlyn G. Bautista / Business World

ryanr

April 10th, 2006, 11:49 PM

Note to moderators: thread has already be archived:)

queetz@home

April 11th, 2006, 01:53 AM

^Don't forget these articles, GreyX. The ENT controversy must not die because of a new thread and should be continued to discuss cuz it will be the greatest catastrophe for the transit system of Metro Manila if built at its current and ridiculously stupid stand alone form. :rant:

Article before ENT

http://money.inq7.net/topstories/vi...03&dd=29&file=1

$200-M, partly underground rail to link MRT and LRT-1
Posted: 2:59 AM | Mar. 29, 2006

THE Department of Transportation and Communication is finalizing the design of a rail system that will link the overhead Metro Rail Transit (MRT) that runs along the EDSA highway 3 with Line 1 of the overhead Light Rail Transit (LRT) from North Avenue in Quezon City to the Monumento area of Caloocan City, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza said.

Up to $200 million will be needed for the civil works phase, Mendoza said.

The 5.12-kilometer rail link, dubbed MRT Phase 2, will have underground sections in the northern portions of EDSA to avoid existing structures, he said. "We will have a subway because of some technical problems," he said

Mendoza said the Department of Transportation and Communications had hired a consultant, the Louis Berger group, which he said was tasked to submit the project's design before end-March.

Louis Berger is a US-based engineering consulting firm that at present has major contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan for the American government, he said.

Mendoza said the Monumento station would become the central railway station linking LRT-1 with the MRT and the proposed ground-level North Rail, which will connect Metro Manila with Bulacan province.

He said that eventually a South Rail system that would link Metro Manila with southern Luzon would also have its terminal at the Monumento station, which he described as the future "Grand Central" station of the Philippines.

Once Louis Berger has submitted its design proposal, bidding for MRT Phase 2 will follow, he said.

The MRT is linked by pedestrian access in the Cubao area of Quezon City with Line 2 of the LRT. A pedestrian link also connects LRT-1 to LRT-2 at a station on Doroteo Jose Street in Manila. A similar pedestrian link connects the MRT with the LRT-1 at the stations at the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay City. Daxim Lucas, with INQ7.net

Article with the ENT
April 9, 2006

Govt extends Edsa

Transit to Malabon

In a related development, the government has extended the planned Edsa North Transit (ENT) project to Tugatog, Malabon, from the previous proposal of stretching it only up to Caloocan City, a DOTC official said.

The ENT project replaces the proposed Metro Rail Transit Line 3 extension.

In a briefing, Assistant Secretary Roberto Castanares said the new extension is aimed at easing traffic congestion in the area.

The new proposal, which involves putting up three additional stations and 3.2 kilometers of underground works, would raise the project cost to $400 million from an earlier estimate of $300 million, he said.

The nine stations include North Triangle, Bansalangin, Roosevelt, Kaingin, Balintawak, General Malvar, Monumento, Caloocan West and Tugatog.

Castanares said bidding for the ENT project will be held next month as a solicited proposal.

Under the solicited mode, the government develops the project study, and may extend sovereign guarantee to the winning bidder. "It’s allowed to subsidize or pay the total amount of the project," Castanares said.

Companies from Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Europe have expressed interest in the project, he said, adding that these interested firms are already operating in the Philippines.

Construction, which would begin next year barring any glitch, has two phases, with the first to include six stations from North Triangle to Monumento at a cost of about $300 million. The second phase involving the last three stations would cost $100 million.

The project is expected to serve at least 300,000 passengers a day by 2010, the first year of operation, before rising to 650,000 by 2020.

The ENT project will link the two existing lines, the MRT 3, which traverses Edsa, and the LRT Line 1, which runs from Monumento to Baclaran.

Castanares said the ENT project will also provide a link between the NorthRail and SouthRail projects.
__________________

MAN!!! I hope the government officials come to their common senses and, if they have a choice, choose the better option, which would be physically extending and linking MRT3 with LRT1 for a seamless system that would benefit all and enable the full potential of the existing systems already in placed.

Imagine...a person can go from the farthest point of the LRT1 extension, which is moving forward, up to SM City or the new GSIS complex (33 storey twin office tower project) without getting off the train. Plus with the extra $200 million, they can extend it easily to Malabon for sure with a lot of money to spare to clean up and improve ALL the existing systems!

tigidig14

April 11th, 2006, 02:15 AM

wow underground but i havent read the whole thing yet. i will later

richard24

April 11th, 2006, 04:32 AM

i dont agree with that ENT... its just plain stupid... but i know their situation with the mrt3...

so they should just lengthen the mrt7... physically connect it with the planned ENT... in that way you connect the 2 caloocans...!

but i guess the most feasible option is to connect it with the edsa line so as to span the whole edsa... its stupid to build 3 stations in one place wherein you can actually connect the 2.. diba? hehehe...

Askal82

April 11th, 2006, 05:53 AM

pau_p1

April 11th, 2006, 09:02 AM

yeah.. that's what I'm pointing to in the previous thread... extend MRT7 instead or yeah connect MRT7 with ENT so as not to have 3 stations blocking the streetscape of that corner of EDSa...

JChip

April 11th, 2006, 01:14 PM

Latest news from the last thread:
Metro Rail Transit 7 bidding to proceed next week

Hi GreyX,

You missed the subtitle:

Framework skirts thorny bond amount impasse

Going forward with the Swiss Challenge now even when there are still some conditions not met by the proponent is fraught with legal problems. This process can be legally challenged if there is a winning bidder.

This looks like another NAIA-3/Piatco project in the making. :bash:

richard24

April 11th, 2006, 01:22 PM

Hi GreyX,

You missed the subtitle:

Framework skirts thorny bond amount impasse

Going forward with the Swiss Challenge now even when there are still some conditions not met by the proponent is fraught with legal problems. This process can be legally challenged if there is a winning bidder.

This looks like another NAIA-3/Piatco project in the making. :bash:

oh no. :no:

KiBeN

April 11th, 2006, 07:19 PM

Ang bilis magkaroon ng bagong thread, sana nga matuloy na ang MRT 7, could anyone post a map ulit nito dito, hahaha...

richard24

April 11th, 2006, 07:27 PM

i dont have a map of it (my MM map is only up until tandang sora in the north part.... i'll see if i can try to make one with ms paint... :)

basta it starts from north edsa, north ave, qc circle, commonwealth, fairview, quirino h-way (?) then to san jose del monte, bulacan...

KiBeN

April 11th, 2006, 07:54 PM

ok thanks, ang layo naman, hanggang bulacan, eh, bakit iba yung sa Atlas ng Metro Manila? nakita ko dati sa likod, yung line 7 daw starting from Esapnya up to Regalado-highway? bakit ganun? or luma na yun?

pau_p1

April 12th, 2006, 07:08 AM

old plan na yun... actuallly in the Atlas that is the MRT4 not MRT7....

yes MRT7 will run along Quirino Highway from the corner of SM Fairview to Tungko, SJDM in Bulacan....

richard24

April 12th, 2006, 07:48 AM

i really liked the mrt4 plan... from manila kasi eh... kaso ayaw na ng manila sa elevated rail... kaya cguro hindi na itinulak ang project na un...

but i'm still happy that mrt 7 will push through soon... and i hope the will be NO obstacles okie? hehehe... :lol: jowk... :lol: :)

Sinjin P.

April 12th, 2006, 10:27 AM

MRT, LRT closed for Holy Week

Operations of rail transits in Metro Manila will be suspended in observance of the Lenten season.

Mel Robles, administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority, said LRT lines 1 and 2 will be closed from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday (April 13 to 16).

Robles said normal operations will resume on Monday, April 17. LRT 1 route is from Baclaran to Monumento while Line 2 is from Recto Avenue to Santolan, Quezon City.

The MRT Line 3, on the other hand, which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue, will be closed from Maundy Thursday until Black Saturday. Operations will resume on Easter Sunday, April 16.

During the four-day suspension, LRTA engineers and contractors will make their yearly maintenance check on all trains, equipment and railway tracks, Robles said.

"The LRTA will maximize the use of the four-day stoppage to make major improvements and replace parts needed for a smooth, safe and fast operation. It may be holidays for most people, but for the LRTA it is work as usual," Robles said.

JAMAICUS

April 12th, 2006, 05:10 PM

Does anyone have any subscription to business world? CAn anybody ost one article titled "RP to get 16 Austrian light rail trains this quarter"

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW041306/today.php

richard24

April 12th, 2006, 05:20 PM

ooooh... so tuloy na tuloy na nga... ibibigay satin ng austria ang kanilang mga lumang tren... sa edsa ata ilalagay yan..

KiBeN

April 12th, 2006, 05:42 PM

luma? hahaha, para namang parating old ang nabibigay sa atin, sana na-preserve yung mga tren na ibibigay...

JAMAICUS

April 12th, 2006, 05:43 PM

^^ HEY! They posted a pic of the Austrian train.It's pretty decent so let us be appreciative about it ok. :)

richard24

April 12th, 2006, 05:49 PM

what pic?
if your talking about the yellow ones with a mock up design in pasay... nope.. hindi un yun.
but if its different... please pa post naman... i wanna see what it looks like.. :)

JAMAICUS

April 12th, 2006, 05:52 PM

^^ Hindi yun! Anyway, I know someone posted an Austrian train.

queetz@home

April 13th, 2006, 02:01 AM

Well, if no one is gonna post a pic of that Austrian train, I might as well post all the possible Austrian trains that would fit in the MRT3 line. Criteria would be standard gauge, high floor, overhead electrical wires.

MRT3 (for reference)

http://www.urbanrail.net/as/mani/MRT3_Shaw2.jpg

U-Bahnwagen Typ E6/c6 für die U6
Crappy Austrian train....oh who am I kidding! There is no such thing as crappy in the rail world as they are better than a bus anyday.....

http://www.berlin-stadtbahn.de/wien/u6/im002667.jpg

http://www.berlin-stadtbahn.de/wien/HPIM2349.jpg

http://www.berlin-stadtbahn.de/wien/u6/im002664.jpg

U-Bahnwagen Typ T für die U6
Decent Austrian train. I hope its not an evil Bombardier though (for some reason, this reminds me of one but need to look it up for sure).

http://www.berlin-stadtbahn.de/wien/u6/im002775.jpg

http://www.berlin-stadtbahn.de/wien/HPIM2355.jpg

No interior pics though. And note its interchangable from the older model above...

http://www.berlin-stadtbahn.de/wien/u6/im002661.jpg

ryanr

April 13th, 2006, 02:06 AM

I've ridden on those Austrian trains. They have a good system, i especially like how they can be combined (old and new). I've also ridden on their subway system (which btw, kicks ass...very, very modern and clean) and also their street trolleys. I love how they have trolley stops right by the subway and LRT stations, so to get to your specific location, you just transfer from one system to another. Ohhhh...Vienna is a beautiful city.

rustyboi

April 13th, 2006, 05:33 AM

from Inquirer, April 13 2006

48 Austrian Trains for MRT 3
Manila - The city government of Vienna, Austria, will donate its second hand trains to the Philippines as part of the expansion program of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system.

Under the scheme, the Viennese local government will donate in several batches up to 48 light rail vehicles (LRVs), which will be used to boost the capacity of the MRT Line 3 that runs along Edsa.

"The first units will start arriving by December," Transportation Assistant Secretary Robert R. Castañares said in a recent press briefing. "The trains are still in use in Austria now."

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Transportation Undersecretary Guiling A. Mamondiong and Vienna Vice Mayor Sepp Rieder last April 4.

tigidig14

April 13th, 2006, 05:38 AM

neat news, it will help our kababayan :)

hindi kaya ibenta ng mga kurakut satin, sa ating gobyerno. alam mo naman satin just :jk: he he

Solblanc

April 13th, 2006, 08:18 AM

On one hand, I'm pretty saddened as to how the LRT-1 can get brand new trains while the MRT-3's view of good news would be a successful beg from Vienna.

Then again, I'm still hoping that someone would restructure the EDSA MRT to have heavy rail cars like in Line 2, as well as a decent non-ENT extension to Monumento/Malabon and to the bay city.

ramvingar

April 13th, 2006, 08:25 AM

So the MRT3 will have different model type trains running on it? Strange. I hope that this does not set a precedent.

Thanks for the effort of doing the research Wally. If this is gonna push through, I'm at least hoping they get the more modern looking ones in the last few pics.

amras

April 13th, 2006, 11:04 AM

can line 3 handle heavy rail units similar to line 2?

queetz@home

April 21st, 2006, 07:19 AM

While googling images to help settle a small debate in another thread, I came across this image. I'm sure the locals must have seen this hundreds of times but we Fil-Ams who rarely venture to the North EDSA area may have not.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/adobo29/045_45.jpg

One more reason why ENT MUST DIE!!!! That structure will be an eyesore FOREVER if its not properly extended to Monumento... :rant:

palawan_buddy

April 21st, 2006, 07:48 AM

i think that structure is an effective way of disciplining the drivers, esp bus drivers, and also cummuters.

queetz@home

April 21st, 2006, 07:53 AM

^^ I am referring to the unfinished MRT elevated guideway that is such an eyesore cuz its so damn incomplete, hence why ENT must die so the elevated guideway will be extended as it should be....

palawan_buddy

April 21st, 2006, 08:03 AM

hehe.sorry.

ishtefh_03

April 21st, 2006, 08:32 AM

got news from my brother that they are planning of putting a subway station from sm north edsa to monumento... hehe... major construction na naman...

sista

April 21st, 2006, 09:21 AM

^^ siguro maingay yan...and dagdag traffic! hehehe pero oks lang, we would benefit from the long run lol

_zner_

April 21st, 2006, 09:44 AM

alin dun sa mga pics ang mga trains na idodonate??

pau_p1

April 21st, 2006, 10:45 AM

ohh.. I hope that those trains could handle the heavy loads of passengers everyday...

renell

April 21st, 2006, 11:04 AM

yeh the MRT3 extension to Monumento is apparently underground. Would be interesting how it goes from like 10-15 meters elevated into underground in EDSA. Bring it on.

Never seen that ENT/bus terminal thing before. Hmm...

richard24

April 21st, 2006, 11:42 AM

wally... i like your signature.. (ENT MUST DIE) :)

but i wont mind ENT if it was underground (as in the whole thing.) hehehe... :) kaso ang weird ng dating ng north edsa niyan... 3 stations in one place... weird. edi sana diretso nalang ung mrt3 tapos biglang pa-underground na xa hanggang malabon... :)

Blackraven

April 21st, 2006, 05:39 PM

^^ I am referring to the unfinished MRT elevated guideway that is such an eyesore cuz its so damn incomplete, hence why ENT must die so the elevated guideway will be extended as it should be....

Yeah your right. It is incomplete.

But a more important question is.....what are they going to do with it?

Are there any plans to extend it?

So far, the only updates I've heard are the ff:

LRT 1 = Purchase of New trains; extension of line
LRT 2 = ???
MRT 3 = Arrival of Second-hand trains ; line extension?
MRT 7 = Bidding process has begun
MRT 8 = Siguro at a later time pa.

Any updates???

KiBeN

April 21st, 2006, 05:43 PM

Di na ata kaylangan ng updates yung LRT 2 kasi maganda siya compared to other Lines, the only thing I heard is i-eextend DAW yung LRT 2 up to Antipolo? I know it's possible, pero is proposed or just a vision? What are the MRT 4 and 5's ?

richard24

April 21st, 2006, 06:13 PM

mrt4 got thrown out coz of mrt7... they both pass through commonwealth... line4 is from old bilibid...

and can anyone correct me that line 5 is actually the name of the physical extension of line1? i know someone here told me that...

and i think i read an article in this thread that mentioned the extension of lrt2... recently lang un... the extension of lrt2 will involve the addition of 3 stations namely sta lucia, samsonville and masinag .... not sure about the name of sta lucia station... it could be named "metro east" or "VV Soliven Center"... dunno.

ryanr

April 21st, 2006, 07:53 PM

and can anyone correct me that line 5 is actually the name of the physical extension of line1? i know someone here told me that...

no, line 6 is. Line 5 is a subway system from Northrail to BGC.

@ Blackraven - If you look at the first page of this thread, they still have to confirm if they will build an extention of MRT 3 or build the "ENT", a seperate line from SM North EDSA to Monumento-Malabon. The later, is the option everyone hates here...mainly because it hardly makes sense.

KiBeN

April 22nd, 2006, 07:16 AM

ok, thanks for the info richard and greyx, ang dami palang lines sa Metro Manila. Pinakamagulo yung line 5 -->the subway, and yung line that pass through the ayala center (pano yun???)

_zner_

April 22nd, 2006, 07:49 AM

nakakalito naman tlga sa dami ng mga gusto nilang gawin.. ewan ko kung matutuloy ba dun yung iba... haha

bustero

April 22nd, 2006, 10:11 AM

lrt2 actually has an extension to cogeo, this would substantially imporve it's prospects as a line.

was just chatting with my mom and she was telling me she used to take the train during the war from montalban to Pasig. apparently a train line existed that ran all the way to Sta Ana Paco Station. oh well 1 step backward 2 steps forward

dancethingy

April 24th, 2006, 06:44 AM

LRTA pays P23 million in income taxes

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) reversed 23 straight years of losses, turned in a profit of P68 million last year, and promptly paid the Bureau of Internal Revenue P23 million in income taxes.

BIR Commissioner Jose C. Bunag said LRTA, under Administrator Mel Robles, was able to raise its gross revenues even without any fare increase by controlling expenses and purchases, and having trains fixed and put into service to transport more passengers.

A stronger peso also helped the government corporation generate foreign exchange gains.

Bunag said LRTA’s P23-million tax payment was a major jump from the P1.5 million it paid for 2004.

Robles himself called on Bunag to pay LRTA’s taxes. Bunag said he would like to see more government corporations become profitable so they could help ease the budget deficit and generate the revenues the government needs.

"Strict monitoring of purchases and maintenance costs have significantly brought down LRTA’s expenses, while improved efficiency of its operations raised passenger volume, resulting in higher passenger revenues," Robles said.

LRTA Line 1 (Baclaran to Monumento) surpassed its annual target of 74,282,309 passengers and had 76,809,417 passengers in 2005. LRTA Line 2’s (Santolan, Pasig to Recto) target ridership of 29,391,704 was exceeded at 30,214,022.

For the early part of this year, LRTA has already deployed 75 light rail vehicles compared to 64 trains when Robles took over in September 2004. Robles had decommissioned trains repaired and put back on track.

The improved efficiency resulted in a new peak passenger record of 428,000 per day, from the previous high of 338,000 before Robles took over.

Improved procurement procedures and operation costs allowed LRTA to drastically reduce its net losses from P1.463 billion in 2004 to P829.75 million in 2005.

"Enhancing the operational process by finding ways to maximize revenues while bringing down costs will enable GOCCs to earn and contribute their fair share to the government," Robles said.

tyronne

April 30th, 2006, 09:27 PM

MRT-7 to create new city

By Roderick T. dela Cruz

A new city will soon emerge in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan province with the construction of Metro Rail Transit Line-7 (MRT-7), which is expected to start next year.

The Cabinet-level National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee said a consortium led by Universal LRT Corp., the project’s proponent, had committed to embark on an ambitious real estate development in San Jose del Monte around the planned site for the final passenger station of MRT-7.

A staff of the Neda-ICC privy to negotiations said companies could now submit an offer topping the proposal of Universal LRT Corp., which included massive real estate development, under the so-called Swiss Challenge.

He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, chairman of Neda ICC, approved the Swiss Challenge for MRT-7 in the first week of April this year.

Documents showed that the consortium of Universal LRT Corp. agreed to build MRT-7, a 22-kilometer mostly elevated rail track from North Ave. in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and a 22-km six-lane access road from San Jose del Monte to the North Expressway Tollgate in Bocaue, Bulacan at a cost of $1.235 billion under a 25-year build-operate-transfer scheme.

Of the amount, $308.75 million or 25 percent will represent equity and $926.25 million or 75 percent as loans from financial institutions.

The access road is seen to become a part of the planned Circumferential Road 6 (C-6), a 98-km road that will connect South Luzon Expressway to the North Luzon Expressway, without passing the highly congested central parts of Metro Manila.

Under the plan, the $1 billion C-6 will run along the Laguna de Bay in the South toward the eastern part of Metro Manila and Rizal province up to Bulacan, passing near the planned intermodal station of MRT-7 in Barangay Tungkong Mangga in San Jose del Monte.

Ruben Reinoso, director of the Neda Infrastructure Staff, however, said there was no formal proposal yet on the ambitious C-6 project, which he claimed remained a concept to this day.

On top of the cost for the MRT-7 project, Universal LRT’s real estate partners led by the SM group have committed to pour in more than $2.5 billion for the development of a new city encompassing an area of around 200 hectares in Barangay Tungkong Mangga.

The consortium is composed of Siemens AG of Germany; Alstom Corp. of France; China National Technical Import and Export Corp.; EL International Holdings of Hong Kong; Earth Tech of Tyco International USA; Premier Gold of Japan; Redford Assets Ltd. of the SM Group; EEI Corp. of the Yuchengco Group; Penta Capital Management Corp., Merlin Pacific Capital Inc., TCGI Engineers and private investors such as George Go and former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo.

source (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business01_may01_2006)

renell

May 1st, 2006, 05:50 AM

LRTA pays P23 million in income taxes

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) reversed 23 straight years of losses, turned in a profit of P68 million last year, and promptly paid the Bureau of Internal Revenue P23 million in income taxes.
......

For the early part of this year, LRTA has already deployed 75 light rail vehicles compared to 64 trains when Robles took over in September 2004. Robles had decommissioned trains repaired and put back on track.

The improved efficiency resulted in a new peak passenger record of 428,000 per day, from the previous high of 338,000 before Robles took over.

Improved procurement procedures and operation costs allowed LRTA to drastically reduce its net losses from P1.463 billion in 2004 to P829.75 million in 2005.

"Enhancing the operational process by finding ways to maximize revenues while bringing down costs will enable GOCCs to earn and contribute their fair share to the government," Robles said.

great news this, public transport is never going to be a quick-money fix but it's a large enterprise so if you're getting it right after a number of years it pays well, but to do that you need to service the passengers and maintain the line. The last paragraph summarised it all

richard24

May 2nd, 2006, 03:29 PM

wow... never realized mrt7 would be the spark needed to begin the c6 devlopment... :) :) :)

kennethologist

May 7th, 2006, 05:55 AM

sana LRTA nalang may hawak ng line 7 :(

sandrin

May 8th, 2006, 05:57 AM

Payment for LRT released

BY DARWIN G. AMOJELAR
The Manila Times Reporter

The Department of Budget and Management has released money to pay the Canadian proponent of the south extension project of the Light Rail Transit Line 1.

Danilo S. Tolentino, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) project manager, said the agency has received the amount of $4.787 million from the national government to settle obligations to SNC-Lavalin International Inc. under the amended and restated settle agreement.

SNC financed the development cost of the LRT Line 1 south extension study.

Based on the amended and restated settlement agreement, the LRTA has to pay the Canadian proponent half of the developmental cost of $20 million. The LRTA earlier paid $5 million, which according to Tolentino, will be reimbursed to the government by the winning bidder.

Tolentino earlier said the International Finance Corp., the private-sector financing arm of the World Bank, has "approved in principle" its first investment in rail transit.

He said Christian Delvoie, World Bank director for infrastructure project in Asia Pacific, approved the LRT 1 extension’s civil works fund requirements of $371.37 million on two conditions: the project should be included in the Philippines’ Medium-Term Public Investment Plan 2004 to 2010 (MTPIP) and in the yearly General Appropriations Act. The projects under the MTPIP are priority projects of the Arroyo administration.

"LRTA is now working for various government approvals in order to endorse the project as a priority," Tolentino said, adding that the project may be shelved if it is not included in MTPIP.

He said the Department of Finance requested the Department of Transportation and Communications to provide budgetary support for the project’s civil works component.

Under the project structure currently being developed, the private sector will fund the electromechanical system, the construction of the extension and the operation and maintenance of the integrated line. The electro-mechanical works are estimated to cost $442.118 million.

Tolentino said the $841.486-million LRT 1 extension project will be auctioned off in July, with construction to start by June next year.

pau_p1

May 8th, 2006, 06:10 AM

When that new city in SJDM is built... the Aranetas would probably do some development on their lands there as well.. they own part of the Paradise Farms in Tungkong Mangga (more known as Tungko).... currently they are developing a subdivision there....

I wonder which track of land there that they will build this new city.... it would be a good thing for people of SJDM and Norzagaray who works within the metro.... or maybe for people of North Caloocan and Novaliches if jobs open in this new city....

Æsahættr

May 8th, 2006, 06:24 AM

We're having a real underground train subway?

_zner_

May 8th, 2006, 06:35 AM

icoconect ba yung MRT3 pati yung MRT7?

diba crowded na nga ung MRT3 lagi..

KiBeN

May 8th, 2006, 06:40 AM

renell

May 8th, 2006, 08:26 AM

bustero

May 8th, 2006, 10:11 AM

Payment for LRT released

BY DARWIN G. AMOJELAR
The Manila Times Reporter

The Department of Budget and Management has released money to pay the Canadian proponent of the south extension project of the Light Rail Transit Line

Thank goodness, finally it's moving again. The people living in that area can expect traffic relief in a few years.

richard24

May 8th, 2006, 12:27 PM

could someone illustrate the MRT's and LRT's and other railway projects U.C. and finished? I'm still confused which is which... hahaha, maski sa paint, ok na... about the MRT 3, it's always crowded there, kasi maraming malls and CBD, and homes na nadadaanan ng EDSA. traffic pa, kaya maraming tao ang nag-MRT. Is it also crowded in LRT2? never pa akong nakasakay dun.

diba may city atlas ka? meron dun ah..

Line1 (LRT1) runs from monumento(caloocan) to Baclaran(Paranaque) (runs through rizal ave and taft
Line2 (LRT2) runs from santolan(pasig) to recto (manila) (eventually, runs from north harbor(manila) up to cogeo(antipolo) but if i'm not mistaken the planned extension is only up until masinag..... (runs through marcos hway, aurora blvd, ramon magsaysay blvd, legarda, recto
Line3 (MRT3) runs from north ave. (qc) to taft(pasay) (eventually up until malabon) (runs through edsa)
Line4 (MRT4) CANCELLED? runs from old bilibid(manila) to novaliches/fairview (qc) (runs through quezon ave, quezon circle, commonwealth
Line5 (MRT5) *subway* from grand central monumento (caloocan) to FBGC (taguig)
Line 6 (the extension of LRT1) runs from baclaran(paranaque) to cavite (eventually till tagaytay or trece martires (?)) runs through quirino ave(?)
Line7 (MRT7) runs from north ave. (qc) to SJDM (bulacan)(runs through north ave, quezon circle, commonwealth, quirino hway (?)
Line8 (MRT8) runs from v.mapa(sta mesa, manila) to angono (rizal) (eventually up until laguna) runs through vmapa, p sanches, shaw blvd, pasig blvd, C-5, ortigas ext., manila east... (not so sure about the route)

------------guys am i right?

keb, crowded lang ang lrt2 pag umaga(east-west only) and pag evening(west-east only) araw araw ako diyan... try mo sumakay diyan... masaya. :)

_zner_

May 8th, 2006, 01:05 PM

masaya sa LRT2 kasi kahit crowded hindi masikip unlike sa mrt..

_zner_

May 8th, 2006, 01:10 PM

I think Line 3 will be connected to Line 7, which is going up to Quezon City and the fringes of Bulacan if I'm not mistaken.

As for underground rail line, I don't think we'll be having one soon. If it doesn't have to be underground, it doesn't need to be underground IMO

Finally, I hope now that the money is shown that we'll see some work. But it's a bit weird, it says construction will only be next July?

icoconnect sa mrt3? no way!! ang sikip sikip na nga dun eh.. tapos idadagdag pa yung mga taga bulacan. e di mas lalong sandwich na yung mga tao.. pati yung separation ng mga ladies and oldies parang unfair. kasi marami pa rin mga babae na nagsusumiksik sa mga coach ng mga lalake.. :bash:

richard24

May 8th, 2006, 01:33 PM

thats why they badly need those new trains from austria... :)

ishtefh_03

May 8th, 2006, 02:52 PM

saw the masterplan of mrt 7 and my undergorund terminal ito sa quezon city circle...

JAMAICUS

May 8th, 2006, 02:54 PM

Where did you saw it???

ishtefh_03

May 8th, 2006, 02:59 PM

^^ i'll keep it to myself na lng... sensya na... :)

_zner_

May 9th, 2006, 05:58 AM

^^ lol....

Æsahættr

May 9th, 2006, 06:25 AM

thats why they badly need those new trains from austria... :)

Austria? What if they break down from the opressive tropical heat?

stephencua

May 9th, 2006, 08:58 AM

they'll be doing alot of safety checking before they use the austrian second hand trains.. :) so im sure there wont be any problems like that.... i hope..

richard24

May 9th, 2006, 09:31 AM

saw the masterplan of mrt 7 and my undergorund terminal ito sa quezon city circle...

is it in anyway comparable to lrt2? o baka naman parang mrt3 itoh? is it grand? hehehe... just asking...

_zner_

May 9th, 2006, 12:03 PM

anong austrian trains naman yun? andami kasing klase na nakapost dun eh...

richard24

May 9th, 2006, 12:12 PM

trains to be donated by the austrian govt to the philippines to be used in mrt3... articles, i think are in this thread..

ishtefh_03

May 9th, 2006, 01:45 PM

is it in anyway comparable to lrt2? o baka naman parang mrt3 itoh? is it grand? hehehe... just asking...

well, looks grand naman eh... i'll look for it again... and i'll take some notes about it... :D

_zner_

May 9th, 2006, 02:20 PM

^^ pati narin pics.. hehe

ishtefh_03

May 9th, 2006, 02:43 PM

sorry i can't... for safety na rin...

and i ask my bro kala ko sa eei corp rin yon, wala pa palang kinukuhang mga corp. for construction...

_zner_

May 9th, 2006, 03:04 PM

^^ bakit? makukulong ba pag kumuha ng pics? san ba yun? para pag nadaanan ko ako na kukuha ng pics... :lol:

JAMAICUS

May 9th, 2006, 03:09 PM

I think her brother works for the company and owns the pic.... If she post it here she will be risking her brother's job...

ishtefh_03

May 9th, 2006, 03:13 PM

^^ nope, not my brother, di pa nila hawak ang mrt 7 eh... i'll be risking myself lalo na na ojt pa lng ako and proposal pa lng yun ng mrt 7...

bustero

May 10th, 2006, 06:17 AM

^^good girl ...learn to keep confidential matters such , specially if you don't own them, you'll go a long way with integrity :up:

I actually asked for photos before in the subway thread about having some pix posted so we could see what the austrian trains look like but no one posted. Its supposed to be in good condition that's why it's so interesting. Lots of years left in them pa!

Saw the LRTA in ANC business this morning, looks like the extension really is a go for line 1 finally, looking forward to it

ishtefh_03

May 10th, 2006, 02:47 PM

^^good girl ...learn to keep confidential matters such , specially if you don't own them, you'll go a long way with integrity :up:

honesty and integrity is the no.1 na kelangan in our company... and i learned na rin since napagsabihan na rin ako before here at ssc...:D

bustero

May 10th, 2006, 07:31 PM

Posted a thread on the austrian forum and this is their reply.
http://digilander.libero.it/CentralStation/duewag_2_files/WLB_103_121_Guntramsdorf_231098.jpg
hehe not exactly the flashiest , they did say they were not sure if this was the one but that this was the older and very common type and chances are if anything will be donated it will be these! Abangan!

ewh1

May 10th, 2006, 10:52 PM

It can't be that. I don't think those even have Airconditioning Units.

pretty sure its these

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/vie/U6-gumpendorfer-str2.jpg

bustero

May 11th, 2006, 04:10 AM

^^oh those look ok! hehe I guess the austrians cant believe they're giving away such modern units! Check their forum maybe they added new posts to my querry.

ewh1

May 11th, 2006, 05:39 AM

Nope... Nothing new since u posted. haha

bustero

May 11th, 2006, 07:51 AM

ewh you're right, I just went back to the Ostereich forums and one of them confirmed my first pix was wrong. The one you pictured above is right. Good for us! Looks nice and modern. Even better than the present Czeck trains.
Here'sthe pix! except yours is better:)

this trains are out of order...
here the new wien-baden suburbantrain (wienerlokalbahn: Badnerbahn)

http://www.wlb.at/galerie-en.aspx
http://www.noevog.at/Foto/badnerbahn2_verkehrsplanung.jpg
credit to falconi of austrian forum, thanks falconi

Blackraven

May 11th, 2006, 08:28 AM

icoconnect sa mrt3? no way!! ang sikip sikip na nga dun eh.. tapos idadagdag pa yung mga taga bulacan. e di mas lalong sandwich na yung mga tao.. pati yung separation ng mga ladies and oldies parang unfair. kasi marami pa rin mga babae na nagsusumiksik sa mga coach ng mga lalake.. :bash:

Question though........

Shouldn't they make an interchange instead?

For example, let's say Monumento Station accomodates two lines. Meaning that let's say the second floor would handle MRT 3 trains while basment lvl 1 would serve the MRT 7 line.

Like in Singapore, where Dhoby Ghaut interchange station caters to several lines.

Go down one level if you want to ride the North South line (which handles Marine Bay, City Hall, Suntec and Jurong East among others). Then if you wanna go to Chinatown, downtown Pasir Ris or even to Chua Chia Kiong, then go another level down to hop on board the North East line (which leads you to the Circle Line which is being constructed).

I mean wouldn't it be better to use an interchange instead of liking having one set of tracks be connected to the tracks for the other line?

bustero

May 11th, 2006, 08:34 AM

More Pix from the site he gave us:

http://www.wlb.at/ImageViewer.aspx?id=14&type=gallery&size=3
Nice front with wien sign , really should be the one

http://www.wlb.at/ImageViewer.aspx?id=15&type=gallery&size=3
shows both versions of wien trains
http://www.wlb.at/ImageViewer.aspx?id=22&type=gallery&size=3
here's a side view with their version of manila cathedral

here are the controls.http://www.wlb.at/ImageViewer.aspx?id=18&type=gallery&size=3
haha just joking must be from the old one

_zner_

May 11th, 2006, 10:38 AM

^^ di nag aappear?

ishtefh_03

May 11th, 2006, 03:15 PM

It can't be that. I don't think those even have Airconditioning Units.

pretty sure its these

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/vie/U6-gumpendorfer-str2.jpg

mas cool to kaysa sa train na color gold...:)

ishtefh_03

May 11th, 2006, 03:20 PM

Question though........

Shouldn't they make an interchange instead?

For example, let's say Monumento Station accomodates two lines. Meaning that let's say the second floor would handle MRT 3 trains while basment lvl 1 would serve the MRT 7 line.

Like in Singapore, where Dhoby Ghaut interchange station caters to several lines.

Go down one level if you want to ride the North South line (which handles Marine Bay, City Hall, Suntec and Jurong East among others). Then if you wanna go to Chinatown, downtown Pasir Ris or even to Chua Chia Kiong, then go another level down to hop on board the North East line (which leads you to the Circle Line which is being constructed).

I mean wouldn't it be better to use an interchange instead of liking having one set of tracks be connected to the tracks for the other line?

naalala ko tuloy ung sa thailand, taas and baba ung train nila...

tyronne

May 11th, 2006, 09:02 PM

ok naman sila. as long as they make sure they're still efficient and safe for public use.

bustero

May 13th, 2006, 01:19 PM

^^ di nag aappear?
really I can see them! try click on the link, you'll see some thumbnails. anyway hope to see this very soon.

thomasian

May 13th, 2006, 06:30 PM

^^ nope, not my brother, di pa nila hawak ang mrt 7 eh... i'll be risking myself lalo na na ojt pa lng ako and proposal pa lng yun ng mrt 7...

Don't worry, we understand your situation. :D But really, sobrang ganda? Proposals for rail projects are sometimes like that (remember, MRT3?), sobrang ganda but in the end would be downscaled to a less grander version because of either corruption or budget constraints.

bustero

May 14th, 2006, 03:56 PM

oh no :bash: the pix above are not of the correct trains!!!

The bombardier trains above are brand new, the model just came out 2000 which is not consistent with what has been released. The original photograph in my May 11 post is correct after all.

Credit to Anekdote and Norbb.
Norbb has provided links(in german for our friends who speak german they may perhaps give a short update on the conversation of the forum)

From Norbb (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=8445912#post8445912)

http://fpdwl.roseflex.com/forum/thr...p?threadid=3358
According to this thread on "Fanpage der Wiener Linien" (http://fpdwl.at.tt) it will be the E6/c6 rather than Badnerbahn-trains.
The first one was built in 1980 by Bombardier-Rotax-Vienna.
They will be refurbished, get air-conditioning and the entrances will be adapted (less stairs i guess).

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/at...6Laengenf_1.jpg
__________________
> > > Austrian Subforum < < <

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/at/metro/U6Laengenf_1.jpg

Anyway I thanked them for the info and we should be gratefull for their generosity. Beggars can't be choosers and apparently the trains are quite ok. In fact from the forum seems like there are quite a bit of fans of the train model. total kung balot iyan sa ad sticker it will not matter.

ewh1

May 14th, 2006, 11:08 PM

Wally is not gonna like this........ lol

queetz@home

May 15th, 2006, 01:30 AM

^^ How so? The fact that we are not getting evil Bombardier trains? That alone is enough to make my day! As mentioned before, I don't really mind those old Austrian trains. ;)

Now if only they would extend MRT3 to Caloocan instead of that stupid ENT.... :no:

ryanr

May 15th, 2006, 02:48 AM

I'm lost...so are we now saying that those old Austrian trains pictured above will be used in MRT3? it doesnt really bother me, but im still waiting for official confirmation.

bustero

May 15th, 2006, 05:02 AM

Yes those are the ones for additional trains for MRT#! According to our Austrian Skyscrapercity friends, the link they provided (if you can read german!) says the exact type of train they are donating which is the one pictured above (they have a newspaper article on the site they linked showing Sec Lastimoso with the Austrians) and apparently still very common in Vienna! In fact from the vienese tram fan site many forumers use the icon of the train above as their signature! So it can't be that bad.

Trams and trains like these are pretty much very long lasting. The first trains of these type apparently were made in 1980. From the articles released by LRTA the trains they're getting are supposed to be in the 10 to15 year old category, same age as the MRT trains. And these can be refurbished for several cycles with new electricals and interiors as long as the carraige and body are in good condition. I dunno about other but those HK trams look very old as NYC subway cars. Anyway for 20 to 25% of the price looks like a good deal.

Wally , hehe unfortunately these trains are also made by bombardier-rotax-wien so I guess they are bombardier. But from the years of service looks like subok na!

ewh1

May 15th, 2006, 05:03 AM

Wally... These were built by Bombardier-Rotax-Vienna. heh

_zner_

May 15th, 2006, 06:36 AM

really I can see them! try click on the link, you'll see some thumbnails. anyway hope to see this very soon.

now i can see it... thanks. :D

Solblanc

May 15th, 2006, 08:24 AM

OMG!!! Those trains are fit to be part of some historical tram, not an elevated MRT line!

The sad part is that I can see those trains getting uglified with a huge vaseline ad streaked throughout each car *sigh*

ishtefh_03

May 15th, 2006, 02:54 PM

Don't worry, we understand your situation. :D But really, sobrang ganda? Proposals for rail projects are sometimes like that (remember, MRT3?), sobrang ganda but in the end would be downscaled to a less grander version because of either corruption or budget constraints.

well, ung plans nya ok naman... wala pa naman ung pinaka architectural nya and ung itsura parang mga more on studies sa connections nila mula north edsa pa bulacan ata yun... forgot na eh...

renell

May 16th, 2006, 09:14 AM

I mean wouldn't it be better to use an interchange instead of liking having one set of tracks be connected to the tracks for the other line?

Indeed it is, but the problem is each line we have a new builder, new contractor. The only way we can make some kind of interchange is if two lines are made and operated by the same contractor, but we seem to take our MRT/LRT on a line-by-line basis. LRT1 and 2 have some kind of connection, but obviously they're like 20 years apart so there will be considerable construction different.

Any trains are good trains IMO. As long as they're operationable.

Dueller23

May 18th, 2006, 08:48 AM

2 groups vying for QC rail projects
By: Roderick T. dela Cruz | Manila Standard
18 May 2006 | 3:00 AM

Two international consortiums are pursuing separate multi-billion-peso light railway projects that will run along the same path in the northern part of Quezon City.

The Cabinet-level National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee approved on April 4 the Swiss Challenge for Metro Rail Transit 7, a 22-kilometer mostly elevated rail track from North Avenue in Quezon City to Barangay Tungkong Mangga in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

The project proponent was the consortium of Universal LRT Corp., which has offered to construct MRT-7 plus an access road in Bulacan at a cost of $1.235 billion under a 25-year build-operate-transfer scheme.

The consortium is composed of Siemens AG of Germany; Alstom Corp. of France; China National Technical Import and Export Corp.; EL International Holdings of Hong Kong; Earth Tech of Tyco International USA; Premier Gold of Japan; Redford Assets Ltd. of the SM Group; EEI Corp of the Yuchengco Group; Penta Capital Management Corp., Merlin Pacific Capital Inc., TCGI Engineers, and private investors such as George Go and former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo.

However, a French consortium said it was only awaiting the decision of the Department of Transportation and Communications for its 11-year-old unsolicited proposal to construct MRT-4, a 22-km elevated-double track carriageway that would extend from Old Bilibid Prison in Manila to Batasan area and all the way to Novaliches, Quezon City.

Most stretch of MRT-4’s route will cover the planned MRT-7, including Quezon Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

bustero

May 18th, 2006, 01:02 PM

So the french have not let go makes this an interesting race after all , also means delays for those guys, I think lrt 4 is solicited so there will be an intersting lobby battle

swatch69sg

May 18th, 2006, 11:27 PM

Tickets may be bought through mobile phone

First posted 01:02am (Mla time) May 19, 2006
By Daxim L. Lucas
Inquirer

LONG, inconvenient lines at the terminals of Metro Manila’s commuter rail services may soon be a thing of the past after the transportation department unveiled a plan to adopt electronic payment ticketing schemes.

If adopted, commuters may soon be able to buy tickets on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) using their mobile phones, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Assistant Secretary Roberto R. Castañares said.

The new scheme is on top of an ongoing DOTC project to implement a unified ticketing scheme for Metro Manila’s three different commuter train lines.

“We are working out a system that will allow passengers to purchase tickets through their cell phones,” Castañares said. “This system will automatically debit their Smart Cash or G-Cash or their savings accounts so they don’t have to wait in long lines when buying tickets.”

A similar system is already being used by rail authorities in Hong Kong where passengers use cards that can be read by radio signals by simply putting them near the card readers.

The smart cards can be “reloaded” through bank accounts, through the Internet, or with mobile phone payment schemes.

Castañares said the DOTC is “seriously considering” the proposal, adding that it is even better and more efficient than the existing program to unify the ticketing systems being undertaken by the French consultancy firm Systra.

“The Systra study is still ongoing and there’s no conflict with the present system,” he said.

Calls for a more efficient ticketing system have grown louder as the numbers of commuters using the MRT and LRT systems increase, prompted in part by rising gas prices.

During the first quarter of 2006, a total of 34.2 million commuters took the MRT-3, data from the company showed. This represents an 11.2-percent increase in the number of riders from the 30.2 million who used the service during the same period last year.

According to the Light Rail Transit Authority, on the other hand, 40.1 million commuters rode its two train lines during the first three months of 2006. This represents an 18.2-percent increase over the 33.8 million passengers that it ferried during the same period last year.

During the morning and evening rush hours, it can take up to 15 minutes for commuters to buy tickets owing to the long lines.

The transportation department has already sealed a deal with the city government of Vienna, Austria, which will donate 48 second-hand trains to the Philippines for the MRT’s expansion program.

bustero

May 19th, 2006, 04:22 AM

Does this mean that they are getting rid of the magnetic strip cards and going to smart cards? Have they announced this? This would be a really great step forward!

renell

May 19th, 2006, 06:58 AM

stephencua

May 19th, 2006, 08:29 AM

i hope they could get the services of the octopus company that did the cards in HK.. sooooooo much better than our magnetic strip cards right now..

Askal82

May 19th, 2006, 08:59 AM

We still use magnetic cards here in NY. You simply swipe them the old fashion way and its still quick and efficient- less time to wait of what seems like you're watching whose snail will reach the finish line on a hundred meter dash.

Its a good idea but why can't they simply restructure the existing system in the first place to make it less hassle to commuters and cut costs at the same time. I believe it can be done.

thomasian

May 19th, 2006, 09:17 AM

^^ So that's where the new "readers" on top of the turnstiles are for.

bustero

May 19th, 2006, 09:40 AM

the smart cards should be "toppable" meaning you can reload it. a cheaper alternative over the long run actually, plus this is going to be usable over a number of services, buses and other transport systems could used it, parking , in fact entry of cbd like singapores ENT system uses it as well I think, quite usefull all around. Better to make the crossover now before more investment in old technology comes. Can you imagine if all bus lines were paid this way, taxes would be much easier to collect plus regulation of buses is also very easy, you can spot a colorum bus immediately.

Solblanc

May 19th, 2006, 10:43 AM

KiBeN

May 19th, 2006, 12:23 PM

oongah, gusto kung MRT maging parang LRT2 yung design, or, dapat mas maganda, kasi ang daming nadadaanan na commercial centers and CBD's and EDSA...

bustero

May 19th, 2006, 12:40 PM

I honestly don't care how much faster it is for people going through the turnstiles if the trains they're gonna go into aren't ready to take them in.

If only they could restructure line 3 to be like line 2... the EDSA line really needs the capacity boost. And I'm not too happy about those jurassic trams they're using as a stopgap measure, either.
You mean the viennese trams. You don't thing they're quaint :)

Seriously I'd prefer much more modern equipment as well but as begars can't be choosers and would prefer the expansion sooner rather than later, for me puede na rin. It's only supposed to last about 15 years time, with the same expiry date as the current czeck trains used in mrt3. Perhaps at that time with a completed line 3 we can get much better train sets. Those ones to be retired can then be put as tram systems in other cities who wish to refurbish them.

dancethingy

May 19th, 2006, 08:23 PM

i like the viennese trams, they're cute

Blackraven

May 20th, 2006, 02:45 PM

smart cards? you mean something similar to the tap thing system they use in Singapore? Those things are indeed much faster than the ticket machines here in Sydney by at least 2 seconds, which is a lot of time if you're talking say millions of people. but there is the problem of those cards becoming waste, but what they did in Singapore was I think you'd get a 1 dollar refund if you return it, and in return they can recycle it for others.

Yup, the RFID Smart Cards (a.k.a. Tap cards)

These are the ones being used in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia.

Those are waaaay effective and faster than any magnetic card.

I think in Japan, aside from using RFID Smart cards, they also have "Suica", wherein you tap your cellular/mobile phone to the card reader then it will act as the payment na. Those phones daw are equipped with highly-encyrpted chips.

brightblade

May 24th, 2006, 12:57 PM

In korea they can use their credit cards in trains and buses.

_zner_

May 24th, 2006, 01:08 PM

sakin, kahit kasing luwag ng LRT2 yung MRT3 para hindi masikip lagi. :D

Askal82

May 25th, 2006, 04:53 AM

In korea they can use their credit cards in trains and buses.

Same as here in NYC. You can use your credit cards to buy metrocards by simply dipping it on ticket dispenser. Here is my good old fashioned one month pass.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/metrocard.jpg

DoggMann

May 25th, 2006, 11:16 PM

http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2006&mon=05&dd=26&file=1

Gov't revives plan to extend LRT-1 to Cavite
Posted: 2:52 AM | May 26, 2006

Daxim L. Lucas
Inquirer

THE revival of an $800-million plan to extend the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 from Parañaque City in Metro Manila to the nearby province of Cavite is in full swing with the government now searching for funding, an official said.

Half of the project cost will be funded by the private sector and the other half by a cheap loan from the World Bank, Assistant Transportation and Communication Secretary Roberto Castañares told reporters.

"The private financing will be done through a solicited build-operate-transfer scheme," he said. "Of the amount, 75 percent will come in the form of debt, while 25 percent will be in the form of equity."

The private sector component will be used to fund the electromechanical component of the project -- the trains and the power and control systems -- and the World Bank-funded government share will be used for the civil works portion, Castañares said.

The project calls for extension of the LRT Line 1-- inaugurated in the early 1980s -- from its southernmost terminal in the Baclaran area in Parañaque City terminal to the northernmost Cavite town of Bacoor.

By doing so, the government hopes to ease congestion on the two main Manila-Cavite road links -- the Coastal Road and the South Superhighway.

The LRT Authority expects the Baclaran-Bacoor extension to carry an average of 400,000 passengers a day, compared with 350,000 that the present Line 1 ferries.

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

Castañares said the World Bank had offered to finance half of the estimated $800 million needed for the rail extension.

The Department of Transportation and Communication "supports the project, but due to limited budget ceiling, the LRTA may have to explore other funding options," he said. "In the meantime, we have already requested the Department of Budget and Management for an increase in the budget ceiling."

He said actual work on the project would start next year and be completed by 2010.

Castañares said the original proponent of the extension, Canadian firm SNC Lavalin, which broached it in the late 1990s in an unsolicited proposal, would not be included in the project.

SNC Lavalin proposed an $875-million project in partnership with the AMA Group of Companies, which is engaged mainly in computer education, but the deal fizzled out last year on cost concerns.

The Canadian firm has since asked the government to repay $20 million it claimed to have spent on the feasibility study and development plans. The government, which eventually agreed on a $10-million reimbursement, has paid $5 million.

The LRT Authority is still lobbying with the Department of Transportation and Communication to have the project included in the government's medium-term priority investment plan, to facilitate funding. With INQ7.net

Copyright 2006 Inquirer and INQ7.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

MAXTON

May 26th, 2006, 09:31 PM

DOTC bares $3-B Metro rail expansion
By Sandy Araneta
The Philippine Star 05/27/2006

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has revealed plans to expand the elevated railway systems in Metro Manila and nearby areas through a project costing some $3 billion.

During a recent press conference in Manila, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza revealed the government is planning the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 8 project for a line that will start from Cubao, Quezon City going to eastern Rizal and end in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

The Line 8 project will cost about $1.2 billion, Mendoza said.

An $800-million line project connecting the Baclaran station to Bacoor, Cavite is also being planned. Another project — the $1-billion MRT Line 7 — will connect the North Avenue terminal of the MRT in Quezon City to Marilao, Bulacan via Commonwealth Avenue.

Mendoza revealed that by the end of the year, a water transport system will soon be implemented to benefit commuters coming from Cavite and Laguna.

Mendoza said about 60 percent of the commuters come from the southern provinces. He noted that in Cavite alone, there are almost a million commuters daily that travel to Metro Manila.

During the press conference, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) also gave updates on a soon-to-be operational ferry system.

The PRRC said seven of the 14 ferry stations along Pasig River will soon be completed.

Construction of the ferry stations will cost P150 million. The PRRC also plans to initially acquire four ferry boats, each having a 150-passenger capacity.

One ferry boat costs P10 million.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200605276303.htm

Dueller23

May 27th, 2006, 02:33 PM

^^ This is great news! Hopefully it will push through.:)

richard24

May 27th, 2006, 03:02 PM

bustero

May 27th, 2006, 03:26 PM

Interesting news if it's accurate and they don't change their mind ten more times. So line 8 is now to start in cubao and not mapa and this will be the east manila line. Perhaps it's easier to align the line. Anyway let's see Mendoza isn't exactly the most credible guy.

richard24

May 27th, 2006, 03:48 PM

i guess you're right... mendoza isnt really the man we should listen to when it comes to specific details.. baka nagkamali lang. or something... :lol:

i was looking at my map... and it seems imposible na a rail going to manila east would start from cubao without overlapping with at least one existing line. or are there any other route availabe.,? :)

JustHorace

May 27th, 2006, 04:35 PM

Yes, won't it be redundant? I mean LRT2 already travels that route. Shouldn't we building Line 7 first?

lochinvar

May 27th, 2006, 06:16 PM

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

Askal82

May 27th, 2006, 08:26 PM

Yes, won't it be redundant? I mean LRT2 already travels that route. Shouldn't we building Line 7 first?

i guess you're right... mendoza isnt really the man we should listen to when it comes to specific details.. baka nagkamali lang. or something... :lol:

i was looking at my map... and it seems imposible na a rail going to manila east would start from cubao without overlapping with at least one existing line. or are there any other route availabe.,? :)

Maybe he wants a train with few stops, ala express trains. Its even better cutting the travel time even less. Lets say that train only stops between Santolan and Cubao where they meet with Line 2 across the train platform or is walkable within a few meters. In other words, they only stop at transit points where the local and express trains meet.

In New York City, there are 4 tracks for the 7th train travelling on the same route. The difference, they come in 3 flavors - local (they have the most number of stops), express (few stops) and extra service (express trains with fewest stops, usually on major transit points only)

Or Cubao is planned to be a commuter rail hub for all other trains in addition to the Grand Central station somewhere in Valenzuela or Q.C.

lochinvar

May 27th, 2006, 09:21 PM

bustero

May 28th, 2006, 04:31 AM

Well one possibility is that because of right of way alignment problems they're thinking of linking Santola Station which is also cubao instead of araneta center which would be very difficult to through to, and then passing through Camp Aguinaldo which is all government. It could then go several ways down through murphy past camp atienza accross the marikina river through mangahan where it can connect to ortigas avenue extension. Just a guess! Doesn't really make sense to much, would make more sense to have the line end in Galleria and just follow ortigas extension all the way angono etc.

_zner_

May 28th, 2006, 05:06 AM

ang gulo naman nila.. tapos ang tagal naman nilang gawin....

Askal82

May 28th, 2006, 08:38 AM

Actually the 7th train in Queens from Flushing to Times Square only has three tracks. The middle track is used alternately for morning (going to Times Square) and afternoon (going home). The F, E, R and G has four tracks up to Union Turnpike near Forest Hills.

Nope, the 4 tracks end in 71st Continental in Forest Hills before Kew Gardens -Union Turnpike, while the F and E train goes all the way east as far as Jamaica. As far as I know 7 train have 4 rail tracks. Anyway, Im just speculating why the plan for mrt8 seems redundant to the existing line servicing on almost the same route.

lochinvar

May 28th, 2006, 04:31 PM

You mentioned about FOUR tracks that's why I said only up to Union Turnpike. Union Turnpike up to Jamaica ONLY has two tracks for F and E. I am very sure of it because I live near Elmhurst.

richard24

May 28th, 2006, 06:32 PM

Yes, won't it be redundant? I mean LRT2 already travels that route. Shouldn't we building Line 7 first?

actually the original plan for line 8 (hopufully still is the plan) is to run through vmapa in manila all the way to ortigas ext then manila east passing through towns of cainta, tay-tay, binangonan, angono then so on(southern rizal)... until laguna..

although line 2 already runs the path of east-west... the line 8 will ease the heavy congested traffic (as in congested) junction area in cainta and rosario in pasig.... and since it will connect to both line 2 and 3, travel would be easier..

line 2 on the other hand, when extended further up to masinag then eventually to cogeo, will benifit the ones from lower antipolo, marikina, san mateo, montalban, (northern rizal)..

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pero if its true na line 8 would be from cubao... bustero's route would be posible but would be much more costly especially for the right of way..

the galleria idea is really a very good one... sana ganun na lang... hehehe... or better yet stretch it out buong ortigas, passing through greenhills then granada, gilmore... then ending at e.rodriguez near st lukes... diba? hehehe... :colgate:

Well one possibility is that because of right of way alignment problems they're thinking of linking Santola Station which is also cubao instead of araneta center which would be very difficult to through to, and then passing through Camp Aguinaldo which is all government. It could then go several ways down through murphy past camp atienza accross the marikina river through mangahan where it can connect to ortigas avenue extension. Just a guess! Doesn't really make sense to much, would make more sense to have the line end in Galleria and just follow ortigas extension all the way angono etc.

-----
i still believe nag-kamali lang un ng banggit (damn that mendoza! :lol: )... since approved na ung line 8 na from mapa to laguna...
kung nag-iba nga eh gagawa nanaman sila nang panibagong study for another route (which would take another eternity).. :) :) hehehe... :) :colgate: