For those riding the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), we have great news: the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will order 120 new light rail vehicles (LRV) or train cars for the line.
The additions would be made because of the line’s extension to Bacoor, Cavite. Once in place, the LRT1 can accommodate up to 750,000 passengers daily.
To date, DOTC has opened the bid to supply LRVs, and the deadline will be on February 22. The purchase will be funded from a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The bid is only open to Japanese companies.
However, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya revealed that the bidding is challenging since Japanese train manufacturers are stretched to capacity because of the upcoming 2020 Olympics. Currently, there are a few companies that expressed interest.
Whoever will win will deliver the trains in two batches: the first in 2017 and the rest in 2018.
Do you ride the LRT1? Are the new trains necessary? Share your thoughts below!
