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Repair and rehabilitation works conducted by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) may need another one to two weeks to complete, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said.PNR operations were expected to resume today, but only 80% of the requirement given by the consultant, TÜV Rheinland, has been accomplished.
Alabang to Sucat rails have been completed while the remaining 20% are the rails along Pandacan to Paco and some parts in Bicutan.
The PNR Engineering Department is in charge of the rehabilitation of the rails.
It has been more than month since PNR stopped running following a derailment of its train along Nichols station.
Tracks and parts of the rail needed exhaustive inspection. Investigation also showed that the fish plate & c-clamp which holds the rail together were allegedly stolen by informal settlers.
Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya and PNR general manager Joseph Allan Dilay inspected the rails along Paco station.
New huck bolts or anti-theft bolts are installed in the rails. These are bolts that are difficult to dismantle because the head comes off once it is secured in the rail. Only PNR staff have the tools to remove it.
The repair of rails and replacement of stolen rail parts where the train was derailed have already been addressed.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed at the stations and security will be beefed up to deter pilfering parts of the rail.
But before the operations resume, PNR still has to secure a certification of safety from TÜV Rheinland.
The commuter rail will open partially from Tutuban to Alabang only. Alabang to Calamba will still have to undergo inspection and rehabilitation.
PNR acquired a net loss of PHP16 million since their operations stopped. But the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) stands pat on its decision not to implement the fare hike when operations resumes again.
Abaya said there will be another public consultation on the fare hike before deciding on the fare hike.
DOTC and PNR said passengers may expect a smoother and safer ride once operations start again.
Photo: Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News (Twitter)
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
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