DOTr completes weight-testing of Dalian trains

The weight testing conducted at the MRT depot was preceded by a series of procedures, including equipment installation, calibration, weighing of empty trains, and loading of weights. It was witnessed by representatives from TUV Rheinland, members of MRT-3’s Joint ADB-Australia Aid Advisory Panel and the DOTr-MRT 3 management. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has completed its weighing test of Dalian trains for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) railway system Thursday night.

The weight testing conducted at the MRT depot was preceded by a series of procedures, including equipment installation, calibration, weighing of empty trains, and loading of weights. It was witnessed by representatives from TUV Rheinland, members of MRT-3’s Joint ADB-Australia Aid Advisory Panel and the DOTr-MRT 3 management.

The test was done by weighing a Dalian car loaded with 1,464 sandbags each weighing 17.5 kilograms (kg) to simulate the train’s crush capacity of 8 persons per square meter or a total of 394 passengers per car.

“Iyong weight-testing ngayon is part of a broader auditing and acceptance process. Different factors kasi ‘yung pumapasok sa tanong na kungacceptable ba siya or hindi. Our independent auditor, na nagsimula noong January, will put all their findings together once all of the processes are done. They will give their assessments and recommendations. (The weight testing is part of a broader auditing and acceptance process. There are different factors that need to be determined if the trains will be acceptable or not. Our independent auditor, which started last January, will put all their findings together once all of the processes are done. They will give their assessments and recommendations),” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in a press briefing Thursday after the tests at the depot.

The MRT-3 management expects TUV Rheinland to submit its comprehensive audit report on the Dalian trains within one to two weeks.

TUV Rheinland recommended the weight-testing in Manila after the previous project team that handled the procurement and delivery of the cars failed to attend and witness the weight-testing done in Dalian, China in 2015.