MRTC Class 3100


The MRTC Class 3100 or CRRC Dalian 8MLB LRV, commonly called as Dalian Train, is a light rail vehicle built in China by CNR Dalian. Since its delivery, most of the trains are still being tested and undergoing final assessments, before being used on regular services on Line 3 of the Manila Metro Rail Transit System.
These trains are the first LRVs produced by CNR Dalian, which caused some controversy due to compatibility issues.
The CRRC Dalian 8MLB LRVs are owned by the Philippine government and operated by the Department of Transportation.

Purchase

With the ridership of the Line 3 already peaking at almost half of its 350,000 original daily capacity, there have been calls to purchase additional trains as early as 2008. Initially, the government was looking at buying second-hand Spanish trains to immediately augment the problem: but after evaluation the order was cancelled for undisclosed reasons. In 2012, it was announced that the government intended to buy new trains for the line through public bidding. Companies from Europe, Japan, and South Korea were initially interested to participate at the bidding, but after the budget was published, decided to back out due to the low amount stipulated. The only bidder left was CNR Dalian who controversially was awarded the contract. The company delivered all 48 trains in 2016. Nevertheless, it was subject to scrutiny through numerous independent studies which are still being conducted as of February 2019.
The targeted deadline for full operations of the train sets are set on July 2021, after the full rehabilitation of the entire MRT 3 train line.

Design

Car body

The car body is made of stainless steel with a livery of sky blue and yellow fascia. Dimensions are nearly the same to the RT8D5M, which are also built for single-ended operations. It is connected by a Jacobs bogie and a gangway in each railcar section. It has a one-way eight-axle motorized car consisting of three articulations, which are connected to each other by the joint and the cover.

Interior

Each railcar is provided with five double leaf, electronically-operated, plug-sliding doors. The three center doors have an open width of 1,255 mm while the two end doors at 861 mm.

Traction equipments

The control device is an IGBT-VVVF inverter control manufactured by Voith, and six controllers are installed per trainset. The traction motor is a three-phase induction motor manufactured by Traktionssysteme Austria and is combined with Voith quill drive unit.

Operations

The trains run at a maximum speed of and run over standard gauge rail tracks.
The trains consists of 3 vehicles, with plans laid for operating with 4 vehicles each.
Each train can seat 80 passengers and carry, under rush loading conditions, 394 commuters at any one time.