DOTC nixes plans to buy secondhand trains for MRT-3

Lawrence Agcaoili of the Philippine Star reports via ABS-CBNNews.com that "the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has dropped plans to acquire second-hand trains for the congested Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3)" from a Spain-based company and the Czech Republic because importing them from the two sources "does not show much advantage."

According to the report, "Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the government has decided against acquiring second-hand trains from Spain's Metro de Madrid and the Czech Republic after considering the maintenance cost as well as time of delivery."

The DOTC earlier announced that the government would acquire 48 new trains to augment "the current fleet of 73 Czech-made trains" used in the MRT-3 line which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

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