The Department of Transportation (DOTr) of the Republic of the Philippines has announced a call for bids from Japanese contractors for the procurement of limited express trainsets to be used for its massive North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.

The contract covers the delivery of seven units of eight-car limited express trainsets to be used for the NSCR airport express service connecting the Manila metropolitan area to Clark International Airport (CIA) in less than an hour.

Financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the rolling stock will run on a 147-km alignment situated along the tracks of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

The trainsets are expected to run at an operating speed of 160 kilometres per hour on a European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 signalling system. The trainsets will likewise be equipped with automatic train operation to increase safety, an electric drive passenger door system with platform screen doors to minimise accidents, and four units of closed-circuit television cameras inside each car to enhance security.

The NSCR project – one of the big-ticket infrastructure projects under the Philippine government’s “Build, Build, Build” programme – is composed of three segments, namely PNR Clark 1 (Malolos-Tutuban), PNR Clark 2 (Malolos-Clark), which will feature the Philippines’ first airport express service, and PNR Calamba (Solis-Calamba).

The project is expected to reduce traffic congestion to and from the Manila metropolitan area, Central Luzon and Southern Luzon and boost economic growth in the railways’ thoroughfares and surroundings.

Details of the procurement are available on the DOTr and PNR websites.

(Source: Republic of the Philippines, Department of Transportation)