Ayala, MPIC turn to Paris Metro operator for LRT

The consortium of Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. will tap the services of France’s RATP Dev, a global metro operator, for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 public private partnership project.

RATP Group, operator of the Paris Metro, will serve as the technical partner of the Ayala-Metro Pacific group, also known as Light Rail Manila consortium.

Under the concession agreement, Light Rail Manila will operate and maintain the existing LRT Line 1 and construct an 11.7-kilometer extension from the present endpoint at Baclaran to the Niog area in Bacoor, Cavite.

A total of eight new stations will be built along the route, traversing the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas up to Bacoor. Light Rail Manila will invest P35 billion in the project.

“The extended rail line is envisioned to help ease the worsening traffic conditions in the Parañaque-Las Piñas-Cavite corridor. It is also expected to enhance commercial development around the rail stations,” Light Rail Manila said in a previous statement.

Light Rail Manila has forged partnerships with other leading French companies to deliver a world-class rail transit system.

Bouygues Travaux Publics and Alstom Transport both have proven track records in constructing mass rail transit systems in France and other parts of the world.

Following the signing of the concession agreement, the grantors and Light Rail Manila are expected to complete certain requirements and obligations before the consortium officially takes over operations, which are scheduled no later than one year from the signing of the concession agreement.

Light Rail Manila was formally awarded the project by the Department of Transportation and Communications and Light Rail Transit Authority after the consortium of Light Rail Manila submitted the lone bid with a premium of P9.35 billion, which comes on top of its required investment in LRT 1.