SMC has installed the first of many trainsets for the MRT-7 project

The San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has unloaded and installed the first of many trainsets for the new Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) line project in Quezon City. This trainset is part of an initial batch of six that the company has ordered from Hyundai Rotem. The remaining trainsets are expected to arrive in the country soon and hopefully before the end of the year. It is important to note that SMC has ordered a total of 36 trainsets or 108 cars from the South Korean manufacturer with these also expected to arrive in the country within the year.

The trainsets are comprised of three cars each and were shipped from Masan Port at the end of August. These were then dispatched to the MRT-7 tracks between University Avenue and Tandang Sora after these were cleared by customs at the Port of Manila. These new trains are expected to run on the new section of the 22-kilometer track that links up with MRT-3 and LRT-1 from North Avenue in Quezon City all the way to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. 

The MRT-7 project is currently at 55.3 percent completion despite the delays, restrictions brought on by the ongoing pandemic, and pending right-of-way issues.  With construction still progressing at a steady pace, the new MRT-7 line hopes to reduce travel time from Quezon City to Bulacan to just 35 minutes, a luxury which many commuters will appreciate especially as the normal trip takes hours due to traffic congestion.