Sumitomo to Study Dalian Trains Operation: DOTr

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday maintenance and rehabilitation provider Sumitomo-MHI-TESP (Sumitomo) will study how to properly operate the Dalian trains through limited deployment on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).

In a message sent to reporters, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Communications Goddes Hope Libiran said Sumitomo will study the initial deployment and is not hesitant on using the trains to expand the capacity of the MRT-3.

“There’s no hesitation. Sumitomo just needs to study how to operate the Dalian trains,” Libiran said.

Recently, the DOTr announced the operation of one Dalian train set on the MRT-3 from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. every night until Oct. 31 as part of its initial deployment.

Libiran said the limited operation of the Dalian train was decided to balance “the requirements for fixing the degraded existing system and on the other hand, expanding capacity with the addition of Dalian trains.”

“The reason for that is because capacity is not just additional trains. Capacity is also faster speed and shorter headways, which require us to rehabilitate the tracks and fix and upgrade the signaling system,” she said.

In a bulletin, the DOTr said the initial deployment of the Dalian train will end in October which will allow Sumitomo to begin rail replacement works in November.

The operation of the Dalian train was made possible when Sumitomo signed a consent for the limited deployment of one train set on Monday.

The DOTr said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has also agreed to the limited operations of the Dalian train.

Discussions are ongoing between officials from the DOTr MRT-3, Sumitomo Corporation, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries regarding the technical considerations, especially when rail replacement works ramp up in the next few months.

To date, three sets of Dalian trains, totaling nine coaches, have completed necessary commissioning and validation tests which included a 150-hour run, the DOTr said.

Each Dalian train set with a three-car configuration has the capacity to carry 1,050 passengers per trip. (PNA)