EDSA MRT 3 Rail Project: Technical Assistant

EDSA MRT 3 Rail Project: Technical Assistant


Project Description

Manila MRT 3 is a rail transit system servicing 420,000 passengers daily along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the most loaded highway of Metro Manila, a conurbation of 13 Million inhabitants. The maximum capacity of 24,000 passengers per hour per direction is achieved during peak hours by 20 3-car trains at 3-minute headway.

The guideway of MRT 3 System, mostly elevated on a viaduct is located in the center of the EDSA has a length of 17 kilometers with 13 stations. Rail vehicles are provided by TATRA, a former Czech Republic company recently purchased by Siemens. An Overhead Catenary System provides the electrical power to the trains. Trains are equipped with an on-board Automatic Train Protection System provided by ADTranz, (Bombardier) monitoring the train speed and overrunning of wayside signals. The Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) has been provided by Omron, a Japanese company and is using magnetic recyclable tickets.

SYSTRA served as a general technical consultant to the Department of Transportation and Communications – Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (DOTC-MRT3) from May 1995 to January 2012 for this project. Services performed include the following:

  • Design supervision and review of final design studies for civil and track, rolling stock, and electromechanical systems
  • Review of procedures and quality assurance documents prepared for the project
  • Performance of system integration testing to verify conformance with contract design/specifications
  • Assistance to DOTC in traffic management implementation and utilities relocation
  • Supervision of construction and installation works
  • Witness rolling stock and equipment acceptance tests in plants
  • Performance and supervision of commissioning, testing and acceptance of MRT3 transportation systems, street and under-guideway lightings, escalators, elevators, closed circuit television system, on-board radio communication system, and signaling system modifications.
  • Preparation and review of, and DOTC personnel training on, operation and maintenance rules and regulations; operating procedures; and other technical training plans
  • Conduct of daily managerial and supervisory works for operation and maintenance (includes rolling stock maintenance activities, track works, power supply and catenary, signaling, telecommunications and AFC systems)
  • Preparation of daily reports regarding train availability, number of running cars, service interruptions, etc.
  • Preparation of monthly reports on conducted trainings; train and driver scheduling; and, ridership and revenue data.
  • Management and supervision of maintenance for 12 years after commissioning
  • Preparation of various technical, legal and financial studies, and bidding documents upon the client’s request (such as but not limited to studies/bid documents on: joint operation and maintenance provider, capacity expansion, common ticketing, automatic fare collection, and line extensions)
  • Assistance to DOTC in coordinating with other agencies