PNR tracks sought for test runs

THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology (DOST) on Tuesday urged the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to allow the agency to test its prototype electric train on its rail tracks so it can obtain the necessary international certification.

At a press conference, Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said getting a certification for the country’s first locally made electric train was the last hurdle before it can be “mass produced” and made available for public use.

He also called on PNR to invest on the hybrid electric train in upgrading its old fleet to make daily commutes in the country safer, more comfortable and tolerable for Filipinos.

Dela Peña said the hybrid train developed by an all-Filipino team of technicians and engineers was one of the many projects initiated by his predecessor, Mario Montejo, that he wanted to be fully implemented as soon as possible to help solve the country’s transportation woes.

It is the third mass transport system launched by the DOST’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center under a P120-million project that began in 2013.

To obtain the certification, Dela Peña said the DOST should get the commitment of the state-owned railway company to open its tracks for a more rigorous safety test of the electric train, which was first rolled out late last month.

“It is beyond our control because we don’t own the tracks,” the DOST chief told the Inquirer in an interview.

Dr. Rowena Guevara, undersecretary for S&T Services, also said the prototype electric train should run at a certain speed  for at least 1,000 kilometers based on the rules to get international certification. “But we don’t have a track that long,” she said.

During its initial testing, the hybrid electric train ran for only one kilometer at a speed of 30 km per hour.

“It should be tested to be certified for maximum speed and other factors or rating,” said Dela Peña. “So  we have to get the PNR’s commitment to help us in that aspect,” he added.