LRMC signs deal with First Balfour, MRail for LRT-1 rehab

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) on Thursday signed a P650-million deal with First Balfour Inc. and MRail Inc. for the rehabilitation of 11 substations of the Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1).

The rehabilitation, which would take two years to complete, would replace substation equipment such as “critical switch gears, rectifiers, transformer and cables.”

It will also enhance the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) to allow “real-time” monitoring of faults of the substations as well as the modernization of fire detection and suppression systems.

LRMC Chief Juan Alfonso said the rehabilitation of some 30-year-old substations was meant to enhance the  electricity supply and the LRT-1 operations itself.

“As they power our trains, the substations are absolutely critical to providing reliable electricity supply and efficient operations of trains,” Alfonso said in a statement. “They also allow us to use newer, more sustainable technology to support our commitments to the environment as part of our ISO 45000 certification.”

The project is part of the improvements being implemented at the  LRT-1 system such as rehabilitation of trains, renovation of 20 stations, and structural enhancements of the parapets.

The upgrade has increased the number of trains from 77 to 122. It also allowed the LMRC to heighten the number of trips and passengers.

The LRMC is a joint company of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s Metro Pacific Light Rail Corporation (MLPRC), Ayala Corporation’s Infrastructure Holdings Corporation (AC Infra), and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) PTE Ltd. (MIHPL). /ee