Monday, August 3, 2015

DOST Hybrid Road Train: Possible Solution to Traffic Congestion


Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Hybrid Road Train, a part of the three-component project of the Advanced Transport Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) under the Makina Para sa Bayan Program of MakiBayan, was one of the various technologies that was featured at the 2015 DOST National Science and Technology Week (NSTW)held on July 24 to 28, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay city.

The DOST NSTW is set every third week of July and is a show window for Filipino ingenuity, innovation, S&T developments, eye-catching exhibits, interactive gadgets, robotic creations by students, and other local inventions. The NSTW also holds several product launching, press conferences, career talks, product demonstrations, awards and other activities during the week-long celebration. NSTW is also a platform for promoting poverty alleviation and economic development.

Eyed as one of the possible solutions to ease the traffic congestion of Metro Manila, the Hybrid Road Train is a 40-meter long system of interlinked and air-conditioned coaches. It is estimated to serve around 650,000 passengers when rolled out. That will be 60 persons per coach for a total of 240 passengers.

The train weighs about 10 metric tons but can run at a top speed of 50 kph and is equipped with dual braking system for efficient braking. It uses ordinary rubber tires so there is no need for rails. It is also environment-friendly with the last of the five coaches dedicated to its electric power batteries which are used alternately with its diesel fuel. It is also cost-effective since most of its parts are locally sourced like the coaches which are fabricated locally.




The DOST has developed the innovative train system because they still consider it as the most efficient means of public mass transportation.

During a recently held media tour and demo ride at Clark Freeport Parade Grounds, Arthur P. Tugade, President of the Clark Development Corporation, has even expressed the possibility of adopting the Hybrid Train System to ferry employees from various locations of the Freeport zone. They are open to using one that also employs the use of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and Wi-Fi Internet connection for its passengers. However, he prefers to have a smaller type to fit the needs of the Freeport which has more than a 1,000 business locators on its 4,400 hectare land.

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