Indexes of advancements in a country can be notably seen among the rise of competitiveness, the better utilization of its precious resources, and the easy access to quality education. The Philippines was the pioneer of the modern street-then-electric-powered interurban rail service in South East Asia during the 1920s. Up to this day, the railway system is an essential means of transporting products and daily commuters alike, as it has been in the past years. For more than decades, railway transport is an essential part of the Philippines’ socio-cultural development. In 1875, the Administracion de Obras Publicas (Public Works Administration) declared a royal decree, Formularios para la Reduccion de los Anteproyectos de Ferrocariles, that listed construction details and standards such as the width of tracks, angle of earth embankments, and stipulations on land values and labor of the streetcar system. This decree was made into action by the La Compania de Tranvias de Filipinas, handled by Jacobo Zobel y Zangronis and Adolfo Bayo, where it provided transport services using five streetcars initially. Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan enabled easy access to transportation from Manila to Malabon and vice versa. The project was completed in the year 1894, with 29 stations along the then 1140 kilometer route.
During the 19th century, the Americans introduced an overhead trolley system, while the Manila Electric Railway and Light Company (MERALCO) took over the company’s property which later on introduced the idea of a Metrorail system -- a feasible solution to the public transport problem that eventually became the predecessor to the Manila Light Rail Transit (LRT). LRT was known as the pioneer in South East Asia, ironic when compared to how the country’s falling behind on mass transportation trends and problem-solving.
LRT consists of two lines: Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 1 (LRT 1) and Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2 (LRT 2). LRT 1 was initially operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), a government-owned company created on July 12, 1980. However, on September 12, 2015, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) took over its operation and maintenance. LRMC is a joint venture company of Ayala Corporation’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation (AC Infra), Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s Metro Pacific Light Rail Corporation (MPLRC), and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) PTE Ltd. (MIHPL). LRT 1 is also the first and only railway system in the Philippines to have met the international standards in Quality Management (ISO 9001:2015) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001:2015).
LRT 1 is one of the busiest among the four railway transportation systems in Metro Manila together with Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 (MRT 3), LRT 2, and Philippine National Railways (PNR). LRT 1 comprises 20 stations: the route stretches from Baclaran to Roosevelt Station, operating every day from 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Initially, LRT 1 only had a length of about 13.95 km and extends from Baclaran, Pasay City to Monumento, Caloocan City, but was extended an additional 5.7 km elevated line after the LRT North Extension Project, a construction from Monumento Station of LRT 1 to North Avenue of Line 3.
As of 2019, 28 to 30 trains are operational during peak hours. From 77 coaches in 2015, it increased to 116 coaches at present which accommodates an average number of 600,000 passengers daily. With the company’s ongoing restoration of trains, it is expected to have a steady increase in capacity that will benefit the public. Currently, there are three generations of rolling stocks running: Generation 1 procured from Belgium in 1982, Generation 2 acquired from Korea in 1998, and Generation 3 obtained from Japan in 2006. In the recent interview with LRMC, it is said that there will be additional trains coming from Spain that will be described as Generation 4 trains.
Since the corporation currently operates three types of trains, another way to notice the difference aside from its physical aesthetics are the numbers placed on both sides of the train. The first two digits represent the generation of the train.
Figure 1: Front View of First Generation Train of LRT Line-1
Figure 2: Side View of First Generation Train of LRT LIne-1
The figures shown above are the first generation trains of LRT Line 1 that are currently operating. The side of the train has the first two digits “10” placed on the side, indicating that it is a first-generation train. The second and third generation trains have “11” and “12” placed on both sides, respectively.
Carrying passengers from Baclaran to Roosevelt, it is inevitable to encounter daily issues during the operations and maintenance in the line. Passengers raise their issues through emails, text messages, telephone calls, and social media posts to the Public Relations Division which brings up their concerns about the issues that are being encountered in the railway transport. Being in service for more than 30 years, LRT 1 has been the talk of various newspapers, media networks, and social media platforms. It has been criticized for its train delays and arrivals, crowd control, and technical glitches. However, these concerns stem from the shortage of trains and their obsolescence.
On Commuters’ Daily Struggles
Crowd control has always been a concern on LRT 1 discussions for platforms overcrowd during peak hours. This occurs particularly from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM every day. Concerns about the delay of trains and arrivals are also up for discussion. Due to the large number of passengers that the LRT 1 accommodates daily, the train delays contribute to the high influx of passengers in different stations as well as the congestion in the rolling stocks. The delays usually occur due to technical problems such as signaling, track system, power supply, or even some acts that the passengers attribute like activating door levers and warning buzzers, standing near the door hindering the boarding and alighting of passengers, leaning on train doors, and lack of running trains. Additionally, the current numbers] of trains are not enough to cater to the heavy volume of passengers, especially during peak hours.
On Obsolescence of Trains
The issues aforementioned all boil down to the obsolescence of trains. Some parts and equipment of LRT 1 from 1984 are still being used up until now. It has been a long time since the system was established. Some parts and equipment are declared obsolete which means that it is no longer produced, and considered outdated by the original manufacturers. This greatly reduces the efficiency of LRT 1. A single train is composed of two to four Light Rail Vehicles (LRV’s), and the current number of LRV’s are not sufficient to cater to all the passengers. In an interview with LRT 1, it is said that the first and second-generation trains are considered obsolete. Also, the majority of second-generation trains are down and under rehabilitation which would take two years to finish.
The dilemma of the daily commuters patronizing the service of LRT 1 is as difficult as the people behind the operations and maintenance of the railway company, the engineers. Last January 15, 2020, Thomasian Engineer visited LRMC’s Electronics Laboratory, the control system of Line 1. The brains of the depot are mostly Electronics and Communications Engineers (ECE’s) who play a huge part in the functioning of the railway, particularly in troubleshooting and repair of all the electronic parts that are defective or obsolete. They were mainly responsible for the restoration of Generation 1 trains, and continuous research to find solutions and innovate machines and equipment necessary for the advancement of the services provided by LRT 1.
Engineering greatly changed the course of advancements in our society through buildings, infrastructures, and transportation. Engineers have a big role in making the lives of people easier through their innovations. They can best carry out its social purpose when they are involved in the formulation of the response to a social need, rather than just being called to provide a quick technological fix (Bugliarello, 1991). The ECE’s importance in the field is crucial for the everyday operation of LRT 1, wherein thousands of people ride. Aside from ensuring efficiency, their number one priority is the safety of the riders. Thus, carrying out the roles of an engineer is a challenge for the ECE’s in LRMC specifically in creating long-term solutions.
With the approach of advancements, problems are inevitable to encounter. The Philippines may have fallen far behind when it comes to railway systems but it is never too late to rise once again. Under the current administration’s Build, Build, Build Program, engineers will be once again playing a vital part in carrying out the plan to be a success. They are needed in uplifting the transportation crisis the country is facing. A more productive railway system equates to faster mobility of people, products, and services creating a big push to the Philippines' economy and tourism. Amidst the obsolescence of trains, there is still a ray of hope along the rails. Through engineers, the railway was made possible in the Metro and it is also through engineers that will bring back the glory of LRT.
This third article of the TE's special reports on the country’s railway system aims to raise awareness and start conversations online on the challenges of our transport system.
Researchers:
Nina Eblamo
Kaycee Sioco
Carlo Castillo
Alliah Brillante
Sean Velasco
Cinematographer & Editor:
Lyle Ong
Produced by:
Michael Dunuan
References:
Avillano, L. (2014, November 16). The Compania de los Tranvias de Filipinas. Retrieved March 6, 2020, from http://kulturang-noypi.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-compania-de-los-tranvias-de.html
Common LRTA passenger complaints: GOVPH. (2014, August 27). Retrieved from http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/08/27/common-lrta-passenger-complaints/
LRT 1 Route: Time Schedules, Stops & Maps - Roosevelt. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-line-LRT_1-Manila-1022-9968-237345-0
LRT Manila Office: LRT Manila Office: Light Rail Manila Corporation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://lrmc.com.ph/company-profile/Orosa, R. L. (n.d.).
Timeline: LRT, MRT construction. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/07/19/987621/timeline-lrt-mrt-construction
Pate, A. J. (2017, August 31). LRT-1 gets ISO certification. Retrieved from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1008175
Paz, C. D. (n.d.). LRT1 operator completes restoration, vows more daily rides soon. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/business/172246-light-rail-manila-lrt1-restoration-daily-rides
Read "Engineering as a Social Enterprise" at NAP.edu. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/read/1829/chapter/10#81
Read "Key Transportation Indicators: Summary of a Workshop" at NAP.edu. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/read/10404/chapter/5#23
User, S. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lrta.gov.ph/index.php/company-profile
