PNR 8300 class explained

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PNR 8300 class
Interiorimage:PNR_INKA_8302_interior_2022-03-05.jpg
Interiorcaption:Interior of the 8300 class in March 2022, similar to the 8000 class and 8100 class
Stocktype:Passenger coach
Service:2021 - present
Manufacturer:Industri Kereta Api
Factory:Madiun, Indonesia
Family:INKA K3 coach
Replaced:KiHa 350 (for incoming Bicol Commuter Services)
Yearconstruction:2019 - 2020
Numberbuilt:15 vehicles (3 sets)
Numberservice:10 vehicles (2 sets)
Formation:5 coaches per trainset / 3 coaches per trainset (Bicol Commuter)
Fleetnumbers:8301 - 8303
Capacity:266 per carriage
1,330 total passengers
Operator:Philippine National Railways
Depots:Tayuman Yard
Lines: Metro Commuter Line (2021–2024)
Inter-Provincial Commuter (2022–)
Bicol Commuter (2023–)
Carbody:Stainless steel
Trainlength: (5-car trainset with couplers)
Platformheight: (MSC)
Ground-height platforms (Inter-Provincial)
Entrylevelorstep:Level (MSC)
Step (IPC)
Doors:3 double-leaf doors per side; interior-sliding type
Hvac:ICOND roof-mounted air-conditioning
Bogies:Bolsterless type
Coupling:AAR/knuckle
Seating:Longitudinal

The PNR 8300 class, also referred to as INKA coaches, is a class of locomotive-hauled passenger coaches operated by the Philippine National Railways since 2021.

Operational history

Purchase

The Philippine National Railways received a budget through the 2018 General Appropriations Act for the purchase of trains.[1] On May 28, 2018, three INKA CC300 locomotives and fifteen passenger coaches were ordered together with four sets of four-car trains worth (US$47.4 million).[2] [3] [4]

Delivery and commissioning

The INKA CC300 locomotives and INKA 8300 coaches were delivered on December 23, 2020, and were unveiled on the same day.[5] Passenger trial runs begun on January 15, 2021, for 150-hour RAMS validation tests,[6] while the trains were officially inaugurated on January 28, 2021, at Dela Rosa station together with the Philippine National Railways and the Department of Transportation officials. The trains officially entered revenue service on the same day.[7] [8] [9]

The trains once served the PNR Metro South Commuter line between and and vice versa. These were subsequently assigned to Bicol Commuter services. As of August 2023, DHL 9002 and 3-car PC 8302 serve Naga–Ligao services, while DHL 9003 and PC 8303 serves the Naga–Sipocot route.

Design

The trains were manufactured by the Indonesian firm Industri Kereta Api, also known as INKA. The design were based on the middle coaches of the PNR 8000 class and 8100 class DMUs retaining the same specifications. The 8300 class coaches, along with the 8000 and 8100 DMUs are all given the designation K3 while in Indonesia.

Car body

The coaches sport a livery of white as the body color, with black in its windows and orange stripes. The coaches also bear the Philippine National Railways and the Department of Transportation logos.

Each car has one roof-mounted air-conditioning units that has a cooling capacity of 36000kcal. In total, there are five air-conditioning units in a five-car train set.[10]

Interior

There are three double-leaf sliding doors per side and longitudinal seats are used. The interior design is the same as the middle cars of the 8000 and 8100 DMUs. The middle coach has a control room where the doors, lighting, and passenger announcements are controlled. Each car has closed-circuit television cameras installed.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NEW DMU TRAINS FOR PNR IN 2019 . . en-gb . 21 December 2021 .
  2. Web site: Philippines awards train contracts to PT Inka . 2018-06-08 . International Railway Journal . en . 2020-02-03.
  3. Web site: PNR orders DMUs and push-pull sets . Railway Gazette . 2018-06-08 . Railway Gazette International . en .
  4. Web site: INKA - PNR Contract Signing Ceremony . Philippine National Railways . en-gb . 21 December 2021.
  5. Web site: Laurel, Drei. DOTr unveils new PNR trains and passenger coaches from Indonesia. Top Gear Philippines. December 24, 2020.
  6. FREE RIDE OF DHL 9000 series + 8300 PASSENGER COACHES. (Unexpected!) . YouTube . 15 January 2021 . 2022-02-16.
  7. News: PNR unveils new high-capacity train sets from Indonesia. ABS-CBN News. Jacque. Manabat. January 28, 2021. 21 December 2021.
  8. News: PNR presents 3 high-capacity trains from Indonesia . . Hanah . Tabios . 2021-01-28 . 21 December 2021.
  9. News: These new PNR trains are now operational. Leandre. Grecia. Top Gear Philippines. 29 January 2021. 21 December 2021.
  10. News: Grecia . Leandre . 29 January 2021 . These new PNR trains are now operational . Top Gear Philippines . 21 December 2021.