New PNR diesel railcars start operations

The brand-new PNR diesel-powered railcars will form part of the 37 railcars and three locomotives purchased from PT Inka of Indonesia. (Facebook)

Passengers of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) metro line can expect additional trips as two sets of brand new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) railcars from Indonesia started operations Monday.

The two sets form a total of six DMU units of three railcars each, manufactured by the Indonesian firm PT-INKA. They are expected to add 18 to 20 more trips per day on its assigned routes from Tutuban (Manila) to FTI (Taguig City) and from Gov. Pascual, Malabon to FTI.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade and PNR general manager Junn Magno led the launch at the Dela Rosa Station in Makati City.

The two train sets aim to accommodate 13,500 additional passengers daily, bringing the total capacity of PNR from 60,000 to 73,500 passengers per day.

Each railcar can carry 250 passengers. A total of 750 passengers can be accommodated per trip in the three railcars.

“This is the manifestation of all our hard work and the start of the transformation of Philippine railways. And this is the reflection of the leadership this country has today, starting with the President, with our [Transportation] Secretary and the people behind this success,” said Magno in his opening remarks.

Magno also noted that the arrival of the two trains sets was ahead of the original schedule of February 2020.

Tugade, for his part, commended the PNR for actively working on the improvement of operations and services. The transportation chief noted that through the efforts of PNR, the number of operating stations increased to 37 from only 14 when he assumed office in 2016.

“Today, we are gathered here not only to take a ride on the train, but also to celebrate the transformation that is coming up and coming in, in so far as the PNR is concerned. Today, let’s celebrate the transformation,” Tugade said.

Meanwhile, House Committee on Transportation chair Rep. Edgar Sarmiento, who also graced the ceremony, urged the public to cooperate with the government in taking care of the country’s railway assets.

“Paminsan po dumadaan po ng train, binabato natin, tinatapunan ng basura. Ang pakiusap ko po, ‘wag naman sana. Ito po’y mahalin natin kasi sarili po natin ito. Wala pong magmamahal [dito] kundi tayong mga Pilipino,” Sarmiento said.

Last year, the DOTr, through the PNR, signed a deal with PT INKA for the purchase of new railcars and locomotives. This is the first batch out of the 37 railcars and three locomotives to be delivered to the country.

The remaining railcars will be delivered by batches in 2020.

Once the new train sets are operational, the PNR targets to serve a total of 140,000 passengers per day—at least double the current capacity of 48,000 to 60,000 passengers daily.