Philippines’ Department of Transport (DOTr) signed a PHP 3 billion (USD 62 million) contract with a Chinese consortium to provide management consultancy services for the first phase of Mindanao railway project.
The consortium comprising China Railway Design Corp. and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision will complete all detailed design and works for revenue operation within 19 months and the management consultancy services will be delivered within 33 months to cater for the pre-construction activities and the defects notification period.
China Railway Design Corp. and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Co, consortium, China Railway Liuyuan Group and CCCC Railway Consultants Group were the three consultants shortlisted by the Department of Transport.
The authority is currently in the process to shortlist the bidders for design and build package for the Phase 1 of Mindanao railway project covering a 102 km rail line with eight stations connecting Tagum, Davao and Digos (MRP-TDD rail section). A 10-hectare depot will be built in Tagum. PHP 81.7 billion (USD 1.64 billion) is the value of the project involving civil works, construction supervision, electromechanical system, rolling stock and land acquisition, resettlement, and utilities relocation. The project is co-financed through an Official Development Assistance-China (ODA-C).
The single track is designed to allow future tracks and electrification. It will be operated by 6 five-car diesel multiple units, as well as by 4 locomotives and 15 freight railcars.
The partial operation of the first phase is expected to enter commercial services in the second quarter of 2022 and full operation is expected for 2023.
The line is the first of the three rail sections of Mindanao railway project covering a rail system with a total length of 830 km which will connect major cities, seaports and economic zones, allowing for faster passenger and freight transport services.
The Tagum-Davao-Digos line is expected to have a daily ridership of 134,060 passengers and it will increase to 237,023 by 2032 and 375,134 by 2042. The new line will reduce the travel time from Tagum City, Davao del Norte to Digos City, Davao del Sur from 3.5 hours to 1.3 hours once it starts operating in 2022.
To develop the rail system, Philippines is currently implementing the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project a 148 km mass rail transit system in Luzon, primarily in the Greater Manila Area. Recently, the DOTr invited Japanese companies to enter train tender for the new system.
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