LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) is working closely with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) in bringing a modern, efficient, and world-class railway transport system as part of private-public partnership (PPP) agreement.
In a formal ceremony led by His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, the inauguration of the LRT-1 4th Generation train set was held today, 19 July 2023, at the LRT-1 Depot in Baclaran, Pasay City.
The historic event was attended by Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista; Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan; LRMC President and CEO Juan F. Alfonso; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema; Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa; Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Hernando T. Cabrera; Sumitomo Corporation President Seiji Takano; Ayala Corporation Business Development Head Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala; AC Infrastructure COO Noel Kintanar; Senator JV Ejercito; Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan; Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano; Paranaque Mayor Eric Olivarez; Las Pinas City Vice Mayor April Aguilar; Bacoor City Administrator Atty. Aimee Torrefranca-Neri; AGIMAT Partylist Congressman Bryan B. Revilla; other officials from the government, dignitaries, executives from the private sector, and media partners. The inauguration officially signals the readiness of LRT-1 in putting the brand-new 4th Generation trains into commercial operations after the successful series of safety checks, inspections, trial runs with minimum kilometers, and acceptance tests were conducted since the first Gen-4 train set arrived in the Philippines last January 2021 from Spain and Mexico. The new train sets were manufactured by Mitsubishi Corporation and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrorcarriles (CAF) of Spain.
Adding to the existing three generations of train sets currently running along the main line of LRT-1, each state-of-the-art 4th Generation train set has a total capacity of 1,388 passengers per trip and 4 light rail vehicles (LRVs) or coaches per train set. Measuring 106 meters in length and 2.59 meters in width, the train set has maximum design speeds of up to 70 kph. It has destination signs to inform passengers if the trains are heading north or south. The driver station inside features a modern design, with a monitor that shows the temperature. The new train sets are also PWD-friendly with special areas for wheelchairs.
“LRMC has remained steadfast in upgrading the commuter experience and committed to our mission of delivering safe and efficient transport since we took over the operations in 2015. Today marks another significant milestone in modernizing our train infrastructure with the inauguration of our first new Generation-4 train. This is a testament of private-public partnership (PPP) successfully working for the Filipino people. Our brand-new trains signal hope and give our Filipino commuters something positive to look forward to in their next LRT-1 commute,” LRMC President and CEO Juan F. Alfonso shared.
Starting 20 July 2023, LRT-1 will deploy one (1) Gen-4 train set which will be used for the main line to serve commuters daily. The deployment will follow the progressive handover of DOTr and LRTA to LRMC and the capacity requirement of the system, with one new Gen-4 train set added to the main line every week until December 2023.
Currently, there are 20 4th Generation train sets already in the Philippines, and the remaining 10 train sets are still expected to arrive from Mexico between November 2023 and February 2024. Complete deployment of the 30 train sets on the main line is expected by Q4 2024 when the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project opens.
