San Miguel acquiring a total of 108 coaches from Hyundai Rotem for MRT 7 —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is tapping the expertise of South Korean national railway operator Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail) for the operations and maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7.
MRT 7 is targeted to be fully operating by 2026.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, SMC MRT 7 Corp. said it had inked the services agreement with Korail.
The Korean group, which will advise the MRT 7 company in setting up core operational systems, safety protocols and maintenance programs.
READ: San Miguel seals P100-billion loan deal for MRT 7 project
The Ramon Ang-led company holds the concession to build, operate and maintain the railway that links Metro Manila to Bulacan via Commonwealth Avenue.
Their engagement will commence in July 2025. The Korean firm, in the long term, will also extend technical support for operations and maintenance.
“This is a critical step as we move closer to delivering MRT 7 to the public. We have faced delays—mostly due to right-of-way issues—but we have stayed focused,” Ang said.
“With all trains expected to be running and tested by the end of this year, and full operations targeted for 2026, this partnership with Korail brings us closer to our goal,” he added.
“I am certain that the success of MRT 7 will become a role model for Philippine railway projects and dramatically improve mobility and quality of life for the Filipino people,” Korail president and CEO Han Moon-hee said.