LRTA 13000 class explained

Background:
  1. EFFFE6
LRTA 13000 class
Interiorimage:LRTA 13000 class interior.jpg
Interiorcaption:Interior of the train captured in February 2024
Stocktype:Light rail vehicle
Service:2023 - present
Manufacturer:CAF
Assembly:
Family:Urbos[1]
Replaced:1000 class
Yearconstruction:2019 - 2022
Numberbuilt:120 vehicles (30 sets)
Numberservice:76 vehicles (19 sets)
Formation:4 cars per trainset
(Mc - M - M - Mc)
Fleetnumbers:13001 - 13120
Capacity:1,388 passengers (264 seats; 4 wheelchair spaces)
Operator:Light Rail Manila Corporation
Depots:Baclaran, Zapote (future)
Lines: Line 1
Carbody:Stainless steel
Trainlength:106abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Carlength:26.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Width:2.59abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Height:3.91abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Floorheight:0.92abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Platformheight:0.69abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Doors:4 sets of double-leaf pocket doors per side
Art-Sections:2
Wheeldiameter:660– (new–worn)
Wheelbase: 1.9abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Maxspeed:60km/h
Weight:
  • 37.4t (Mc)
  • 36.5t (M)
Axleload:10.5t
Gradient:4%
Traction:Mitsubishi Electric IGBTVVVF
Traction Motors:4 × 3-phase AC induction motor
Transmission:Westinghouse-Natal (WN) drive
Acceleration:12NaN2
Deceleration:1.32NaN2
Hvac:Roof-mounted duct-type air conditioning
Electricsystem: overhead catenary
Collectionmethod:Schunk single-arm pantograph
Uicclass:Bo′+2′+Bo′
Bogies:Inside-frame type
Minimum Curve:25m (82feet)
Brakes:Regenerative, rheostatic, and electro-pneumatic
Safety:Alstom Atlas 100 ATP
Coupling:Semi-permanent
Seating:Longitudinal
Notes:Sourced from [2] unless otherwise noted.

The LRTA 13000 class is a class of fourth-generation high-floor light rail vehicles (LRV) of the Light Rail Transit Authority servicing the LRT Line 1. Purchased in 2017 with Japanese funding as part of the Cavite extension of the line, the trains, manufactured by CAF, entered service in July 2023 to replace the aging first-generation 1000 class trains.

It is the first LRV in the system with 5 digits in the body number due to the class fleet exceeding 99 units, in comparison to the older fleet.

Operational history

Purchase

To prepare for the construction of the south extension of the LRT Line 1 to Cavite, new trains were needed to meet the growing demand. As such, on October 16, 2015, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) called for bids for the purchase of 120 light rail vehicles, configurable to thirty four-car trainsets, with Japanese companies only allowed to participate in the tender,[3] In February, DOTC identified Marubeni and Sumitomo Corporation as prospective bidders.[4] However, in April, the DOTC announced a failed bidding as none of them submitted proposals.[5]

On December 28, 2016, DOTC's successor, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), called for bids again.[6] Two bidders showed up: Marubeni with Hyundai Rotem, and Mitsubishi Corporation with Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF).[7] The latter won the JPY 30 billion (PHP 14.1 billion) contract on November 19, 2017,[8] [9] and the contract was signed on December 1.[10] These trains are expected to gradually replace the aging 1000 class which has been in use since the opening of the line in 1984 and has undergone three refurbishments.

Mitsubishi implemented the contract and supplied the trains while CAF manufactured the trains.[11] The new trains were funded by Japan's official development assistance.[12]

Production and commissioning

Officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) unveiled a full-scale mock-up model of the 13000 class train on May 7, 2019.[13]

The first two sets (8 cars) were initially planned to be delivered in July 2020,[14] however the delivery of the train sets were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 18, 2021, the first batch of deliveries, consisting of the first trainset (4 cars consisting of two articulated cars each) arrived at the Port of Manila. These were unveiled to the public the following January 26.[15] [16] This trainset was then transported to Baclaran Depot in February.

The first trainset underwent static tests at the depot on September 15, 2021, followed by dynamic tests along the mainline on September 25. The trains then underwent 1000adj=onNaNadj=on test runs conducted by the Light Rail Manila Corporation on May 4, 2022. Initially expected to enter in-service operations by the end of the month,[17] the initial deadline was not met.

On July 19, 2023, the trains were inaugurated by President Bongbong Marcos. The first train set entered revenue service the next day. More trainsets from the 13000 class are expected to be incrementally entered into service, with one additional train set every week until every trainset enters service. All trains are expected to enter service by the fourth quarter of 2024, once the Cavite extension is opened.[18]

Water leaks

A few months before the trains entered service, Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez disclosed on February 16, 2023, that water leaks were found in eighty LRVs that were delivered to the Philippines. He further disclosed that as a result, these could not be used in mainline operations, and the government suspended payments to Mitsubishi and CAF in July 2022.[19]

Chavez admitted that as a result of travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, the DOTr was unable to send inspection teams to inspect the trains for any defects, while these were still undergoing factory acceptance tests.[19] These defects were later fixed through a comprehensive roof rectification plan.[20]

Design

The LRV design is a 6-axle rigid body consisting of two articulated cars, like those of the 1100 and 1200 class trains. These are mainly operated in sets of four, and are capable of operating at a two- or three-car configuration under special circumstances.

Car body

The train car body is made of stainless steel. Each vehicle has four pocket doors per side. Initially, the trains were to sport a silver-yellow livery,[21] but was changed to crimson and silver[22] after the mock-up model was unveiled in 2019. The trains also feature LED destination panels, like the 1200 class.

Front cab variations

The fourth-generation trains vary in two frame colors. The first two sets (Trainsets 1 & 2), built in Spain, have a red-painted "forehead" above the windshield and LED sign, while sets 3 to 30, built in Mexico, received a black "forehead".

Some train sets has varying signage data as well; train sets that arrived and/or were certified prior to the renaming of Roosevelt station to Fernando Poe Jr. station retained its destination signage. Later train sets feature the correct destination name which is noted to scroll instead of being static. All train sets had its signage data been updated in preparation for opening of the Cavite Extension Phase 1.

Interior

As opposed to the older rolling stock, the 13000 class includes hand straps aside from safety handrails installed above the train floor.

The trains are also the first in the Philippines to feature a specially-made wheelchair-compatible space or passenger with restricted mobility (PRM) areas, located closer to the driver's cab as compared to the 1100 class and 1200 class where it is located near the articulation.[23] Unlike the 1200 class, there are also fewer side handrails in the middle sections of each vehicle. Longitudinal seating is present in the 13000 class, as per other train classes in the system.

Like the 1100 class and 1200 class, there are four pocket-type doors per side per car. For the driving cars, one door is installed on the side of the driving cab.

Electrical and mechanical

Each LRV has three inside-frame bogies consisting of two motorized bogies at the ends and a Jacobs trailer bogie under the articulation. Semi-permanent couplers are installed at the ends of every light rail vehicle, except for the driving cab section of the head car.

These trains are easily recognizable by their distinctive braking sounds, which produce a screeching noise when stopping. This trait was not present in earlier train class sets, even when they were first introduced.

Like the 1100 class and 1200 class, each LRV consists of four 105kW 3-phase AC induction motors, driven by variable-voltage/variable-frequency drive (VVVF) inverters with insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBT). Auxiliary power is sourced from a static inverter, a low-power DC voltage supply, and batteries.

Signaling and control systems

The trains are equipped with the automatic train protection (ATP) system. Alstom was awarded the signaling and communications contract for the south extension of the LRT Line 1 in 2016. The contractual scope included the upgrading of the signaling system and the installation of the Atlas 100 on-board signaling solution for 60 train sets across the existing three generations of trains and the 13000 class trains.[24]

The trains are also equipped with a Train Control and Monitoring System (TCMS).

Train formation

The configuration of a four-car trainset is Mc - M - M - Mc. Mc denotes a driving car while M denotes an intermediate car.

Car type! colspan="2"
McM
A-carB-carA-carB-car
Quantity22
Control cab
VVVF inverter
Auxiliary inverter
Pantograph
Wheelchair spaces
Car lengthm26.5
ft in26.5m (86.9feet)
Capacity
Seated6369
Standing275287
Total338356 -->

Sources

Notes and References

  1. March 24, 2021 . CAF LRT 1 4th Generation LRVs . Facebook Watch . April 16, 2021 . 16:9 . . Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, reposted by Ang Litratista ng Daang Bakal Facebook page.
  2. Web site: MANILA LINE 1 LRV . Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles . October 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907112023/https://www.caf.net/en/soluciones/proyectos/proyecto-detalle.php?p=295 . September 7, 2023 . dead.
  3. News: Only Japanese firms may bid for LRT-1 train supply deal – DOTC. Keith Richard D.. Mariano. GMA News. October 16, 2015. December 30, 2021.
  4. News: Darwin G.. Amojelar. Marubeni, Sumitomo bidding for 120 new cars of LRT 1. Manila Standard. February 14, 2016. October 26, 2021.
  5. News: Bidding for new LRT 1 trains fails . Darwin G. . Amojelar . April 3, 2016 . Manila Standard . June 13, 2024.
  6. News: JICA-funded LRT-1 train supply deal opened to Japanese bidders . January 3, 2017 . BusinessWorld . December 29, 2016 . June 9, 2024 . Imee Charlee C. . Delavin . Public-Private Partnership Center.
  7. News: LRT 1 awaits notice to secure new trains. Louella. Desiderio. The Philippine Star. September 3, 2017. October 26, 2021.
  8. Web site: CAF and Mitsubishi win LRV contract in Manila . November 21, 2017 . Railway PRO . May 24, 2020.
  9. Web site: CAF TO SUPPLY 30 LRVS TO MANILA (THE PHILIPPINES) . Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles . November 20, 2017 . Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles . May 22, 2020.
  10. News: DOTr, Mitsubishi Corp. sign contract for procurement of Light Rail Vehicles for LRT-Line 1 Cavite Extension Project. PTV News. December 1, 2017. October 26, 2021.
  11. News: Balinbin . Arjay L. . Train cars for LRT-1 Cavite extension starting to arrive . January 27, 2021 . BusinessWorld.
  12. News: 30 add'l LRT-1 train sets seen to decongest Manila traffic. Joyce Ann L.. Rocamora. November 20, 2017. Philippine News Agency. December 30, 2021.
  13. News: 8 NEW STATIONS LRT-1 extension construction officially kicks off today . May 7, 2019 . News5 . June 10, 2024.
  14. Amojelar . Darwin . LRT–1 expects new trains from Japan. Manila Standard . May 8, 2019 . May 23, 2020.
  15. News: Mercurio . Richmond . Trains for LRT-1 Cavite extension arrived . January 27, 2021 . Philstar.com.
  16. News: Manabat . Jacque . First batch of new train cars unveiled for LRT-1 extension . January 27, 2021 . ABS-CBN News . January 26, 2021 .
  17. News: Ted . Cordero . LRT1 operator begins testing 4th generation trains . GMA News . May 4, 2022 . May 4, 2022.
  18. News: New, state-of-the-art train sets await LRT-1 riders starting July 20 . Aaron . Recuenco . July 19, 2023 . Manila Bulletin . July 19, 2023.
  19. News: Nearly all train cars delivered for LRT-1 Cavite Extension defective, says DOTr official . Xianne . Arcangel . CNN Philippines . February 17, 2023 . February 17, 2023 . February 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230218032613/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/2/17/lrt-1-cavite-extension-trains-defective.html . dead .
  20. Mga depektibong bagon ng LRT-1, isasailalim sa roof rectification process – DOTr . fil . Defective train cars of LRT-1 to undergo roof rectification process – DOTr.
  21. Mitsubishi Corporation Awarded Contract to Supply Rolling Stock for Manila LRT Line-1 in the Philippines . . November 20, 2017 . June 14, 2024.
  22. News: LRT-1 will start running its 4th-generation trains . Sam . Surla . May 5, 2022 . VISOR . May 6, 2022.
  23. Web site: officialLRT1. LRMC welcomes new LRT-1 Generation-4 trains. Light Rail Manila Corporation. January 26, 2021. May 25, 2021.
  24. Web site: Alstom to supply an integrated metro solution to Manila. Alstom. February 12, 2016. February 19, 2022.