An innovative mass transit system for Metro’s woeful traffic

By Charles Buban July 22,2015
ACCORDING to Science Secretary Mario Montejo, the road train is not high-tech but an innovative mass transit system that can resolve Metro Manila’s traffic problem or at least part of it.

ACCORDING to Science Secretary Mario Montejo, the road train is not high-tech but an innovative mass transit system that can resolve Metro Manila’s traffic problem or at least part of it.

THE PUBLIC launch of a 40-meter-long “road train” now being test-driven in Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga, and soon in the roads of Metro Cebu may be regarded as a major development in the continuing search for a solution to Edsa’s woeful traffic situation.

 

The road train, developed by Filipino scientists and engineers at the Department of Science and Technology’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center, looks like five buses linked together (made up of five interconnected fully air-conditioned coaches) is powered by a hybrid engine that combines conventional diesel engine and battery-powered electric motor.

 

The DOST informed that it took them three years to finally perfect this P45-million project.

 

It would only take a few of these road trains to replace dozens of old and smoke-belching public utility buses that would carry a lot more passengers safely and conveniently.

 

The road train the DOST developed is estimated to serve 650,000 passengers a day as it can accommodate a total of 240 commuters—60 for each coach. The fifth and last coach will not carry any passenger as this is where the engine and batteries are located.

 

The road train, which are actually articulated buses that are common form of public transport in most parts of the world, may be a great solution for Edsa that needs to increase the number of commuters it could service. But at the same time, Edsa ca no longer afford to have a major infrastructure project that will worsen the already-bad traffic situation.

 

Beyond capacity

 

As the main artery of Metro Manila, Edsa is already operating way beyond its capacity. Designed to efficiently and safely accommodate 320,000 vehicles, the 24-kilometer highway is currently serving 520,000 vehicles on most days (according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Edsa nowadays is already recording some 600,000 to around a million vehicles almost daily).

 

Last year, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Land Transportation Office have already tried operating an articulated bus system to augment the problematic service of the Metro Rail Transit.

 

The dry run was conducted exclusively for MRT’s southbound passengers, picked them up at the North Edsa station, made stops at Buendia, Ayala and Taft stations, turned at SM Mall of Asia rotunda, and ended the trip near Naia Terminal 2.

 

As for the road train, MMDA will only have to make each station a bit longer so it could accommodate its length as well as its four passenger doors.

 

An off-board fare payment, as what the DOST is envisioning, would be a better system for the road train commuters as this would speed up the boarding time, supports passage through the vehicle and avoids delays in transacting payment on board.

 

According to the DOST, the turning radius of the much longer road train is actually shorter than that of a standard bus—because of how its length is divided—so there would be no big modifications that should be made on the road it will ply.

 

In fact, the DOST said their tests have shown that the five-coach road train can navigate and turn at three-lane roads.

 

Since the road train is well suited to high volume routes, it will be much appreciated whenever the MRT breaks down (which is very often) or whenever there is a public transport strike.

 

Moreover, the road train will emit fewer harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, thanks to its hybrid engine.

 

For safety, the road train’s speed was set to maximum 50 km per hour and is equipped with dual braking system for efficient braking. Weighing about 10 tons in full capacity, the train uses ordinary rubber tires so there is no need for rails.

 

Considering the road condition of Metro Manila during the rainy season, the road train’s engine was elevated so that it could operate on up to 1.2-meter flood water.

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