Philippines allocates funds for rail rehabilitation project

The Filipino Government has approved additional grants worth PHP6.3bn ($145m) for the rehabilitation of the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 and Metro Rail Transit 3 this year.

The MRT-3, which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay, will receive PHP4.5bn ($103m) to buy 26 additional coaches and improve the signalling system.

The Filipino Government has earmarked PHP1.33bn ($30m) for LRT-1, which passes from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran in Pasay, to repair 63 railcars, provide spare parts for four cars and improve 18 stations.

The LRT-2, which operates from Recto in Manila to Santolan in Pasig, will get PHP539.58m ($12m) to replace train spare parts for four of the 18 trains, and repair and replace 152 air conditioning units in 18 trains.

The investment will also help improve 11 train station facilities and communication systema, as well as replace the electronic train and station monitoring equipment.

The project will increase peak passenger capacity MRT by 60% to 37,824 passengers from the current 23,640.