THE technical team of the CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co., Ltd, a China-based first-class large-scale railway equipment manufacturing company, is set to visit the Philippines in December this year for a month-long technical presentation marathon in a bid to present a proposed Monorail Train project in the cities of Cebu and Davao.
The China-based firm partners with Maglev Vision Transportation Mfg. Corp., after the latter sealed a four-year renewable deal last August to bring a Canadian technology Bombardier Innovia 300 Monorail Train in Davao City.
“It’s a work in progress. When the technical team of the CRRC Nanjing Puzhen will come in the country, it will present the technical details of the proposed monorail project,” Jose Guardo Jr., a Davao-based inventor who is connected with Maglev said in an interview with SunStar Davao Wednesday afternoon, November 1.
The Monorail System is operational in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. An earlier version, the Innovia 200 is operating in Las Vegas strip of the United States.
The technical team, he said, will first present its product to President Rodrigo Duterte, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for Davao City Loop, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Governor Hilario Davide III and Presidential Assistant for Visayas Secretary Michael Dino for Metro Cebu Monorail Line project.
A feasibility study will also be undertaken to assess the potentials and advantages along with the proposed project’s impact to the community.
“In the end, it all boils down to identifying the right technology that can deliver services at an affordable cost but quality assured performance,” Guardo said.
Monorail System advantages
Guardo said that apart from the system’s main advantage is it can potentially address the worsening traffic problems in both cities, it also offers lower costs.
“The advantage with the Monorail System is the lower cost in maintenance and construction as it is using a pre-fabricated 69 cm width concrete beam,” the Dabawenyo inventor shared.
Guardo added the monorail is using rubber wheels enabling the train to operate at a lower noise compared to Manila Light Rail Transit System (MRT/LRT) “and each coach will cost 1/3 less compared to MRT/LRT counterpart.”
Another advantage, Guardo said, construction of the proposed system will only take less than three years provided all the rights of way are in place.
“Because it uses pre-fabricated concrete beams that can be fabricated off-site and install by crate at wee hours of the night,” he said.
The system’s turning radius is at 46 meters compared to conventional MRT/LRT which is at 96 meters or more.
He underscored that it can still work on existing narrow road networks like in Davao City, Colon Street in Cebu City, or a Makati to BGC loop.
The elevated design of the system scraps the necessity to widening roads and the train will continue to operate even during floods.
Last year, the Maglev Vision Group with Project Delta Team has communicated to then city mayor now President Duterte.
Guardo shared that during their meeting with Duterte in 2015 they agreed on the aim to develop locally-made technologies and push for local assembly and manufacturing particularly train systems.