DOTC prepares awaited upgrades for LRT line 1

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has called on interested parties to bid for the long-awaited P1.06-billion renovation and capacity improvement for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 1, the country’s oldest commuter train line.

The notice published in broadsheets on Thursday noted that the rehabilitation work would likely start by early next year.

“Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided by law,” according to the DOTC.

The most expensive portion of the project will be the replacement of 23 kilometers of train tracks that were installed when the LRT 1 was first built.

“Over 40 kilometers of rail are original from 30 years ago when they were first installed,” the DOTC said.

More than half of these steel rails have thinned due to wear and tear, nearing dangerous levels.

This phase is estimated to cost P381 million and will take a year and a half—from February 2012 to September 2013—to complete.

The second phase will be the replacement of corroded and damaged gantry anchor bolts, which hold up the overhead cables that deliver electric power to run the trains.

The replacement of these 1,760 anchoring bolts is expected to take just under three years from March 2012 to February 2015.  This phase will cost taxpayers P150 million.

The DOTC has also earmarked an additional P184 million for the procurement of modified “bogie” frames, or chassis, that support train cars’ bodies, propulsion, suspension, braking and other systems.

The fourth phase will cover the rehabilitation of 21 dilapidated train cars, which are still in use.

“The car bodies of these units have been corroded and rusted out from 14 years of use since they were last rehabilitated,” the DOTC said.

The final phase is the P197-million restoration of 14 train cars that are no longer running due to damage and other defects.

Once restored, the units will increase the system capacity by 67,000 passengers per day, or an increase of more than a tenth from the number of passengers the LRT 1 serves every day.

The pre-bid conference for the first phase was scheduled for December 12.