Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Dalian

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Passengers can expect six more Dalian trains to run the MRT-3 line as early as this August or by September, after nearly a decade of being idle, said the Department of Transportation (DOTr). </p><p>That’s on top of the three Dalian trains that began to be deployed during peak hours in July. </p><p>DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said the additional trains would help accommodate the rise in passenger demand during the so-called ‘ber’ months or as the Christmas season nears. </p><p>“Pagka meron nang na-test at ready na, idadagdag na natin yan immediately. Peak hours muna pero later on kahit non-peak, pwede na rin yan,” he told ABS-CBN News, in an exclusive tour of the MRT-3 depot where the Dalian trains are kept in storage.<strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/21/6-more-dalian-train-sets-to-be-operational-in-next-few-weeks-dotr-1142"><br/></a></strong></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/21/6-more-dalian-train-sets-to-be-operational-in-next-few-weeks-dotr-1142"><strong>6 more Dalian train sets to be operational in next few weeks: DOTr</strong></a> </div><p>The news team caught up with some technicians working on the wiring of a Dalian train coach so it can be added to the current three-car train set being operated during rush hours, and was able to board a Dalian train undergoing a test run before it moves up to the main line soon. </p><p>For 2026, the DOTr and the MRT-3 management are targeting full deployment of the 48 China-made Dalian trains, which is expected to raise the capacity of the railway system to 800,000 passengers daily, from the current 400,000.</p><p>“Magse-set tayo ng x number of trains per month hangga’t umabot tayo sa natitirang 39,” said Dizon.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8pI2NBduxmc?&amp;pp=0gcJCa0JAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>“Pagka nagamit na natin lahat yung 48 Dalian trains, yung buong 20 to 21 maximum number of trains natin ay pwede ng 4-car trains. Meron tayong mga stations, halimbawa, Cubao, na dagsa ang mga kababayan natin during peak hours, nakikita natin pag nagpadaan tayo ng skip train, meaning nagdagdag tayo ng empty train na four cars, ubos kagad yung pasahero e. So you can just imagine kapag lahat ng train natin ay 4-car train na, talagang mabilis tayong makakapick-up,” he added.</p><p>Some MRT regulars welcomed the news, but hoped it wouldn’t just be another empty promise. </p><p>“Sana matuloy, sobrang laking tulong nun lalo sobrang dami ng passengers. Aside from convenient at affordable, mas mabilis makarating sa office,” said Laila Araña.</p><p>Jordan Lagundi, who often runs late to work because of the shortage in trains, said it’s about time the Dalian trains are used.</p><p>“Sa tinagal-tagal ng panahon, buti naman naisipan nilang magdagdag na mga bagong tren,” he said.</p><div><strong>WHAT IT TOOK TO MAKE DALIAN TRAINS RUN</strong></div><p>But why did it take so long, considering that the Dalian trains already passed the independent audits of German firm TUV Rheinland and the Mihara testing facility in Japan back in 2019 and 2020? They only recommended certain adjustments to address incompatibility issues with the MRT-3 system. </p><p>Dizon explained that it took some time to convince Sumitomo, the Japanese maintenance provider of the MRT-3, to take on the Dalian trains. It also had to conduct its own safety evaluations after Chinese manufacturer CRRC Dalian conducted some retrofitting at no cost to the Philippine government. </p><p>“Ang kontrata ng Sumitomo is to maintain. So ang sabi natin sa kanila, kung may tren ang Pilipinas, kailangan ding i-maintain yan. Ang sabi naman nila, hindi namin alam i-maintain yan dahil hindi naman galing Japan. So kinausap natin yung CRRC, kailangan kayo ang mag-maintain nito, kailangan kayo ang mag-provide ng spare parts. Siyempre yung supplier from China gusto na rin finally mabayaran kasi nasa mga less than 25-percent pa lang ang nababayad sa kanya out of the total project cost (of P3.8 billion),” he said. </p><p>According to Dizon, the deal is that the MRT-3 will only take over the maintenance of the Dalian trains once they are in use. Rehabilitating the MRT-3’s tracks and other systems was also necessary before the Dalian trains could be deployed.</p><p>So can the rail line handle everything once all 48 Dalian trains are merged into the system?</p><p>Dizon said they are still in the process of ramping up capabilities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/29/dalian-trains-to-increase-mrt-3-carrying-capacity-to-800-000-dotr-0846"><strong>Dalian trains to increase MRT-3 carrying capacity to 800,000 - DOTr</strong></a> </div><p>“Kaya maganda rin na hindi ito biglaan, dahan-dahan natin gagawin. Kasi siyempre kailangan natin ng mga bagong drivers, technicians. Pero alam mo magaling naman ang Pilipino, mabilis matuto. Ang importante meron naman yang kontrata na hindi naman tayong pwedeng basta-basta nalang iiwan ng suppliers. Andyan pa rin sila to assist, to provide technical assistance and expertise,” he said. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TWKR0aCz-Ik?&amp;pp=0gcJCa0JAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong>NO FARE HIKE IN OFFING<br/></strong></div><p>Despite all the recent developments, including a new cashless payment system, Dizon assures the riding public: raising fares is the last thing on their minds right now. </p><p>“Hangga’t hindi nag-iimprove significantly ang serbisyo, wala tayong karapatang magtaas ng presyo,” he said. </p><div><strong>LESSON IN PROCUREMENT PRACTICES</strong> </div><p>Dizon said the DOTr also takes away a key lesson from the whole Dalian experience— the need to institutionalize having a transactions adviser for every procurement, to avoid the same complications that delayed these trains for nearly 10 years. </p><p>“Hindi na tayo pwedeng magkamali dahil nakita natin, ang mga pagkakamaling ganun, ang resulta nasasayang ang pera, nasasayang ang oras. At dahil doon, kawawa yung mga kababayan natin kasi yung mga binili para sa kanila, para magamit nila, hindi nagagamit,” he added.</p>

<p>Passengers can expect six more Dalian trains to run the MRT-3 line as early as this August or by September, after nearly a decade of being idle, said the Department of Transportation (DOTr).</p>

Passengers can expect six more Dalian trains to run the MRT-3 line as early as this August or by September, after nearly a decade of being idle, said the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

6 more Dalian trains to be deployed this month or by September

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6 more Dalian trains to be deployed this month or by September

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 07, 2025 07:56 PM PHT

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Updated August 08, 2025 05:44 PM PHT

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Dalian trains

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