Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) unveiled the MRT prototype on Thursday (September 3) as engineers from China completed its assembly.
It was delivered to the LRT-1 depot after midnight on Thursday, and assembly began at the break of dawn.
Chinese engineers from Dalian Locomotive arrived in the country early this week to assemble the MRT prototype. After it was assembled, the prototype will be towed to the MRT depot for further testing.
“Yung specs, yung static, [and] dynamic testing will happen pagdating na sa MRT,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya explained.
How does it compare with the old coaches?
Transport officials said the new units will operate in the first quarter of next year, as trials will be done for the remaining months of 2015.
The traction motor and brake system from Germany will be installed in November, in time for the test run.
“We’re trying our best to bring it in earlier so we’ve gotten in touch with the Chinese Embassy and the German Embassy to help us. They know the situation of the MRT,” Abaya said.
