the PNR comeback

[absinthe]

refurbished old trains = still are old trains.

Just in the news around a week ago, train service was delayed because of break downs on the train diesel locomotives. More than a few locomotives are NOT operational because they were under repair.

Same old... same old...

Yung 2535 at 2540, reconditioned CAT tractionmotor ang sinalpak sa kanila.

Pagod na kasi si 902 at 919, sila ang assigned mainly for COMMEX runs. Si 5001 at 5009 naman, works train and DMT sila.

Meron nang mga additional refurbished locos na asa Caloocan Shed. Ready for use na sila, si 917 at 921 at meron pang isa i forgot the loco number.

Other locos currently used ay si 916, assigned as Lucena works train delivering new concrete ties sa Southern Quezon area (pero minsan napapadpad sa Laguna as works train din), si 918, 922, at 2540 naman asa Naga. Si 2540 dapat uuwi din sa Manila during the test trip pero nadiskaril sha sa meh bandang Ragay so iniwan na sha doon.

[absinthe]

Some photos of Calauan - LB ROW during a recent rail trip.

Part I

Part II

Part II continued

Part III

Part IV

Part IV continued

Part V

Part VI

[absinthe]

Ito yung video noong tulay na asa mga pictures. Kinuhanan ito noong pauwi na ang test team to Manila noong July 1, 2010. Ito ang isa sa pinakamalalim na tulay sa PNR.

Palekpek Bridge, Calauan, Laguna

[DonCamote]

I took my first ride this morning. How about arriving to work in 20 minutes during rush hour? That is train ride for 10 minutes and another jeepney ride for 10 minutes. It costs only 17 Pesos one way. Php 34 round trip. Nice

Nice, because it takes me 45 minutes to drive a car from Pandacan Manila to Makati CBD during rush hour. And it costs Ps 225 per day for gas and parking.

It's time to park the car. In one month, I can save Ps 4,200. One year Ps 50,400 saved. Cool!

[baludoy]

^ so kumusta iyong train ride bro? ano ang feedback mo w/ regards to its creature comforts?

[DonCamote]

^ so kumusta iyong train ride bro? ano ang feedback mo w/ regards to its creature comforts?

I find the ride pleasant to my expectations. I do not expect to find a seat since it is rush hour so standing for 10 minutes with my fellow commuters was not a problem at all. The trains were clean, AC sufficient even for a full packed cabin. I also noticed the relative smoothness of the ride compared to LRT Line1 where you feel every little bump. The trains here seem to be in a fine tuned suspension. Acceleration and breaking is also smooth, unlike the jerky LRT.

suggestions for improvement:
Ticketing - this is still the paper based ticket, they should upgrade soon to something more efficient.
Extension of the service - I found in this thread that there is no ride past 8pm so I was chasing the last train at 7:30pm in Buendia last night. Probably they should extend to 9pm.
Closer intervals during rush hours - what is wrong with having 15 minute intervals during rush hours?

[absinthe]

I find the ride pleasant to my expectations. I do not expect to find a seat since it is rush hour so standing for 10 minutes with my fellow commuters was not a problem at all. The trains were clean, AC sufficient even for a full packed cabin. I also noticed the relative smoothness of the ride compared to LRT Line1 where you feel every little bump. The trains here seem to be in a fine tuned suspension. Acceleration and breaking is also smooth, unlike the jerky LRT.

Hindi pa sha ganong ka smooth kz hindi dipa maganda magkakatamper ng riles. Kung ayos talaga yan, maganda talaga ang takbo ng tren. If matrtry mo ang Sucat-Alabang segment, hataw talaga ang tren dito, ang ganda kasi ng pagkakatamper ng riles. Kaso, ang daming nambabato na bata.

Air suspension ang new DMU trains ng PNR.

suggestions for improvement:
Ticketing - this is still the paper based ticket, they should upgrade soon to something more efficient.

Dati nagshift na sila sa e-ticket na parang katulad ng ginagamit sa bus. Pero nagkaron ata ng problema between PNR and OMNI, yung systems provider. Kaya balik sa manual ticketing.

There are plans na maging single based ticketing nalang ang PNR, LRT and MRT. Ang nakikita ko lang problema sa PNR stations ay paano ilalagay yung turnstiles.

Extension of the service - I found in this thread that there is no ride past 8pm so I was chasing the last train at 7:30pm in Buendia last night. Probably they should extend to 9pm.
Closer intervals during rush hours - what is wrong with having 15 minute intervals during rush hours?

Ang problema kasi, 5 lang yung DMU trains in service ngayon. Dati 6, isa standby for emergency use. Kaso dinala na sa Naga si DMU-02.

There are plans for more additional DMU units once the Phase II of the Linkage Project is complete.

----

Also, there are Sleeper coaches on the way to the Philippines, a gift from Japan Railways. This will be used for the Manila-Naga route. This will give Bicol Bus operators a serious run for their money.

Mas dadami ang pupunta ng CWC para mag wakeboarding. Hehe.

[absinthe]

Some pictures of the Hokuriku Sleeper Coach

images from fukui_norisuke







^^ Class A Seats




^^ The Bed of class A seat

[absinthe]

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Meron din 2nd class na configuration, kaso hindi Hokuriku line. Pero baka ganito rin ichura.



Source

[absinthe]

Sta. Mesa Station 09.11.10




^^ Station distance from Tutuban: Km. 6 + 500


^^ SGU-01




^^ DMR-07's busted side mirror