MRTH II defends bid to stop purchase of new trains

MANILA — MRT Holdings Inc. II (MRTH II) defended its bid to stop the purchase of China-made trains citing compatibility issues.

The company filed a case to “ensure that the Chinese-made trains are compatible with and safely operate on the MRT-3 System.”

“All MRTH II requests from DOTC is that it allows MRTH II to inspect the Chinese-made trains to assure compatibility to the system and thus the safety of the riding public, and MRTH II is willing to drop the pending case immediately,” the firm said in a statement.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), meanwhile urged the company to drop the case.

MRTH II however said that it will only agree to drop the case if the government will allow them to inspect the trains.

“MRTH II and MRTC were not consulted and were kept in the dark about the procurement of the Chinese-made trains,” the firm said.

“The Chinese manufacturer chosen by DOTC has never built a double-articulated LRV. Its expertise is building locomotives,” it added.