Light hybrid road train to service Clark Freeport

STATE-RUN Clark Development Corp. (CDC) signed on Tuesday an agreement with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for the use of a 160-capacity light hybrid road train.

The train, which will be used within the Clark Freeport in Pampanga, is expected to address the transportation needs of an increasing number of employees working for locators.

In a statement, CDC said it has allocated P1 million for the project’s one-year pilot implementation phase. Drivers’ salaries, operational and maintenance expenses during the interim period will be shouldered by CDC. The driver of the train would come from the CDC pool of drivers and would need to undergo training under the DOST.

The DOST, for its part, offered to lend to CDC its light hybrid road train, which would ferry passengers for free on December 2015 in time for the holidays.

“The management of CDC headed by its president Arthur P. Tugade aims to provide the commuters in the freeport a reliable, economical, safe, smart and green transportation mode,” said Alveen H. Tabag, CDC vice president for engineering services.

Tabag said the light hybrid road train is set to undergo functional and performance testing next month.

“Commuters in Clark can also avail of the ‘smart’ commute free of charge for a certain period of time as Wi-Fi and a global positioning system (GPS) will be installed in the train,” Tabag said.

The light hybrid train is the smaller version of the hybrid electric road train that was tested for road-worthiness last June 25 at the Clark Freeport Zone.

The unit being lent by DOST will have five coaches. One coach is dedicated for the engine and power mechanisms and instruments, while the other four coaches can each accommodate some 40 to 45 passengers.

Made by Filipino engineers, the bus-like train can run at a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour and is mainly powered by hybrid diesel fuel and electric-powered battery. -Amy R. Remo