LRTA 2000 class

The LRTA 2000 class is a class of electric multiple units in operation on the LRT Line 2, manufactured by Rotem and Toshiba.[7]

LRTA 2000 class
A 2000 class EMU at Araneta Center–Cubao in May 2024
Interior of the train captured in April 2023
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
In service2003–present
ManufacturerRotem and Toshiba
Built atUiwang, South Korea[1]
Constructed2002–2003
Entered serviceApril 5, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-04-05)
Refurbished2021
Number built72 vehicles (18 sets)
Number in service40 vehicles (10 sets)
Formation4 cars per trainset
Mc–M–M–Mc
Fleet numbers2001–2072
Capacity1,628 passengers (232 seats)
OperatorsLight Rail Transit Authority
DepotsSantolan
Lines served Line 2
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Train length93.2 m (305 ft 9+14 in)
Car length23.3 m (76 ft 5+38 in)
Width3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Height4.1 m (13 ft 5+38 in)
Floor height1.1 m (3 ft 7+14 in)
Platform height1.1 m (3 ft 7+14 in)
Doors5 sets of 55-inch (1.4 m) double-leaf pocket doors per side
Wheel diameter850–790 mm (33–31 in) (new–worn)
Wheelbase2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Maximum speed80 km/h (50 mph) (design)[2]
60 km/h (37 mph) (service)
Weight
160.1 t (353,000 lb)
  • 41 t (90,000 lb) (Mc)
  • 39.05 t (86,100 lb) (M)
Axle load16.85 t (37,100 lb)
Steep gradient5%
Traction systemToshiba[3]/Woojin[4] IGBTVVVF
Traction motors16 × 120 kW (160 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor
Power output1.92 MW (2,570 hp)
TransmissionWestinghouse-Natal (WN) drive
Acceleration1.3 m/s2 (4.3 ft/s2)
Deceleration1.3 m/s2 (4.3 ft/s2) (service)
1.5 m/s2 (4.9 ft/s2) (emergency)
Auxiliaries3,300-volt IGBT PWM static inverter (160 kVA)
110 V DC batteries
HVACCarrier 72FB-400X roof-mounted air-conditioning
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Single-arm pantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
BogiesBolsterless type
Braking system(s)Regenerative, rheostatic, and electro-pneumatic
Safety system(s)Siemens[note 1] TBS100 ATO/ATP
Coupling systemShibata close-contact (cab ends)
Semi-permanent (non-cab ends)
SeatingLongitudinal
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] unless otherwise noted.

A total of seventy-two cars configurable to eighteen train sets were manufactured from 2002 to 2003 under the fourth package contract of the initial construction of Line 2.

Operational history

Purchase and production

The project's fourth package, which involved communications and fare systems, vehicles, and trackwork, had eight bidders submit bids in July 1997. The selected firms included: Sumitomo in partnership with GEC Alsthom (now Alstom), Alcatel, Barclays, and Meidensha Corporation; MMC Consortium made up of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Hyundai Presicion (which later merged to become Rotem and was renamed Hyundai Rotem), with John Holland, Mitsubishi Electric, and Union Switch & Signal as subcontractors; CCDET Consortium consisting of Spanish companies Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, Elecnor, Curbertas y MZOV (now Acciona), Dimetronic, and Tomen as subcontractors; USJP Consortium consisting of Nissho Iwai (now Sojitz Corporation), Raython Ebasco Overseas, General Railway Signal, and Nippon Sharyo; Kanemastu Corporation and Ansaldo SPA (now Hitachi Rail Italy) consortium with subcontractors Breda Construzioni, Hanjin Heavy Industries (later merged to become Rotem and renamed Hyundai Rotem) and Spie Entrans SA; Siemens/Mitsui consortium with Marta Transport as subcontractors; Asia-Europe MRT Consortium comprising Marubeni, Balfour Beatty, Toshiba, and Daewoo Heavy Industries (which later merged to form Rotem and was renamed Hyundai Rotem), with subcontractors GPT International and GEC Alsthom; and AdTranz, ABB Power, and Itochu Corporation consortium.[14]

In 1998, several Japanese companies participated in the bidding for the rolling stock for the LRT Line 2, which, according to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, were hounded with alleged anomalies.[15] Although it was promptly corrected by the Estrada administration after it assumed power in the middle of that year, it also encountered similar anomalies in May 2000, such as the disqualification of two bidders in the final evaluation for the project. Only two bidders, Ansaldo, and Mitsui with Siemens, passed the technical evaluation process.[16]

In September 2000, the AEMC[note 2] secured the fourth package contract. AEMC won over the other bid, MMH Consortium.[note 3][17]

Seventy-two train cars (18 sets) were produced by Rotem (now Hyundai Rotem) between 2002 and 2003.[5] These were built in Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.[1] Hyundai Rotem constructed the main car body while Toshiba provided the electric components. The first four train sets arrived in November 2002, while the remaining fourteen were delivered in the succeeding months.[1]

Mainline operations

By 2014, twelve out of the eighteen sets remained in service.[18] By May 2019, it was reduced to eight following a collision involving two train sets,[19] and by October, further reduced to five following a power supply incident.[20] By July 2021, running trains were increased to six after the opening of the east extension,[21] subsequently increased to eight. Currently, eight trains are operational, while the other trains are being repaired/overhauled or awaiting spare parts.

Upgrades

On April 16, 2018, the Light Rail Transit Authority signed a contract with Multi-Scan Corporation and MRail, Inc. for the replacement of 80 air-conditioning units in ten train sets. It used parts from the original equipment manufacturer of the air-conditioning units, Carrier Corporation.[22] The replacement of air-conditioning units started on March 7, 2019,[23] and was completed the following May 24.[24]

Rehabilitation of three trains started on March 3, 2021. AMSCO JV,[note 4] the then-maintenance provider of Line 2, started the installation of new train propulsion systems and train monitoring systems from Woojin Industrial Systems in three trains in order for those to return to service ahead of the original scheduled opening of the east extension the following April.[4] The refurbishment was completed in the same year.[26]

Design

Car body

The front cab of the 2000 class trains resembles that of the front cab of the second-generation Korail Class 311000 trains (pictured above).

The car body is made of stainless steel, and the under frame shares the similar material with LAHT steel steel. The trains sport a livery of yellow and purple cheatlines. The upper yellow lines represent mango, the unofficial national fruit, while the thicker purple lines are based from the ube, sporting a geometric ethnic design.[1]

The trains have round front ends, which bears resemblance to the second-generation Korail Class 311000 (Seoul Subway Line 1), 341000 (Seoul Subway Line 4), and 351000 (Suin–Bundang Line); these EMUs are also manufactured by Rotem (or then KOROS).[27]

Each car has two roof-mounted air-conditioning units manufactured by Carrier with a cooling capacity of 40,400 kilocalories (169,000 kJ) per hour.[6] In total, there are eight air-conditioning units in a single train set.[22]

Trains prominently use wrap advertising. Certain train sets feature upgraded signages, now in LED, instead of sign scrolls.

Interior

The inner train space is lined with melamine and/or polyester faced ply metal. The windows are tinted safety glass, and the longitudinal seats are made of fiberglass reinforced plastics.[28] The seats have a length of 1.6 to 2.4 meters (5 ft 3 in to 7 ft 10 in).[29] The flooring is of stainless steel keystone plate and a thick, nonslip covering. Open gangways are present in between cars with a width of 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in).In 2017, some trains were retrofitted with the Passenger Assist Railway Display System (now known as TUBE), a passenger information system powered by LCD screens installed near the inner ceiling of the trains that shows news, advertisements, current train location, arrivals and station layouts.[30] However, as of 2022, the LCD screens remain switched off and unutilized.

Electrical and mechanical

Each car has two bolsterless bogies underneath the car with an axle length of 2.2 meters (7 ft 3 in).[12] The primary suspension consists of an elastomeric spring and the secondary suspension is a diaphragm air spring.[31] Mechanical Shibata couplers are present at the ends of the driver cabs, along with anti-climbers above it. Semi-permanent couplers are present in between cars (non-cab ends).[28]

The traction system consists of VVVF inverters controlled by IGBT semiconductors. Two alternating current induction motors with a power output of 120 kilowatts (160 hp) are mounted on each bogie.[32] Toshiba supplied the original VVVF controller and propulsion systems,[3] while Woojin Industrial Systems supplied the new propulsion systems for three train sets.[4] Its auxiliaries consist of 3,300-volt static inverters and 110-volt DC batteries.[33]

Train formation

The configuration of a four-car trainset is Mc1–M1–M2–Mc2. All cars are powered and equipped with traction motors; Mc denotes a driving car while M denotes an intermediate car.

Cars of 2000 class
Car type[32]McM
Quantity2
Control cab
Motor
VVVF inverter
Pantograph
Car lengthm23.3
ft in76 ft 5.3 in
Capacity[31]Seated5464
Standing338360
Total392422

Fleet list

Set No.1234StatusNotes
12001200220032004Active
22005200620072008For repair/restoration
32009201020112012Active
42013201420152016
52017201820192020No plans to repair
62021202220232024
72025202620272028For repair/restoration
82029203020312032Active
92033203420352036Fitted with new Woojin propulsion system[25]
102037203820392056No plans to repair
112041204220432044For repair/restoration
122045204620472048No plans to repair
132049205020512052ActiveInvolved in 2019 collision; restored in 2021[25]
142053205420552040Fitted with new Woojin propulsion system[25]
152057205820592060For repair/restoration
162061206220632064Active
172065206620672068Fitted with new Woojin propulsion system[25]
182069207020712072Involved in 2019 collision; restored in 2021[25]

Incident

On May 18, 2019, two trains collided between Araneta Center-Cubao and Anonas, injuring 34 passengers with none in critical condition.[34][35] Revenue operations were suspended to give way for maintenance checks; operations resumed at 10:47 a.m. the next day.[36]

The incident started at 2:09 p.m. when trainset no. 13 broke down at Katipunan station after the train's static inverters, which powers the electrical and braking systems, failed.[37] The defective train was subsequently moved to the pocket track near Anonas station, waiting to be towed back to the depot. However at 9:15 p.m., the train was reported to have moved on its own towards the eastbound track going towards Santolan station, after its air pressure slowly dissipated, causing the brake shoes of train no. 13 to loosen.[37] The downward slope of the pocket track also caused the train to move on its own.[37] At this time, trainset no. 18 was going towards Santolan station from Araneta Center-Cubao on the same track. The runaway train was reported via radio but eventually rear-ended train no. 13. The driver of one of the two trains was reported to have jumped out of his train before the collision, sustaining wounds and bruises.[37]

Both trains involved were subsequently repaired and returned to service in September 2021.[25]

See also

Notes

References

Sources