DOTC, SoKor firm ink 3-year MRT maintenance contract

Initially, they seemed keen on backing out of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) project, so now we wonder what changed their mind.

“On Thursday, January 7, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has signed the three-year maintenance contract for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) system with the joint venture of Busan Transportation Corporation, Edison Development & Construction, Tramat Mercantile, Inc., TMICorp Inc., and Castan Corporation,” reports GMA News Online.

DOTC Seretary Jun Abaya was quoted as saying, “We are one step closer to having a safer and more reliable MRT-3 system with our new world-class rail maintenance service provider.”

He added, “With the operator of the Busan railway network in South Korea sharing their technical expertise, the riding public can expect an increase in the number of running trains and the efficiency of operations.”

So, starting Fri, Jan 8, the Busan consortium “will undertake maintenance works of the rolling stock and signaling system – the most critical maintenance discipline.”

The report noted: “Twelve qualified technical experts, including rolling stock, signaling, and track specialists, from Busan are already carrying out the necessary activities for transition and system assessment.”