LRTA 1100 class

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The LRTA 1100 class is the second-generation class of high-floor light rail vehicles of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) in Manila, Philippines, which began operation in 1999.

LRTA 1100 class
1100 class train at Carriedo station in June 2020

1100 class interior in June 2020
In service 1999-present
Manufacturer Hyundai Precision[a]
ADtranz[b]
Built at Changwon, South Korea
Constructed 1997–1998
Entered service 1999
Refurbished 2019–2020
Number built 28 vehicles (7 sets)
Number in service 20 vehicles (5 sets)
Formation 4 cars per trainset (Mc–M–M–Mc)[c]
Fleet numbers 1101-1128
Capacity 1,358 passengers[d]
Operator(s)
  • Light Rail Transit Authority (1999–2015)
  • Light Rail Manila Corporation (2015–present)
Depot(s) Baclaran
Line(s) served LRT Line 1
Specifications
Car body construction Stainless steel
Train length 105.7 m[e]
Car length Driving head cars: 26.35 m
Intermediate cars: 26.5 m
Width 2.59 m
Height From top of rail: 3.74 m
Pantograph locked down: 3.95 m
Floor height 920 mm
Platform height 690 mm
Entry Step
Doors 4 per side, sliding pocket-type; 1,500 mm × 1,900 mm
Articulated sections 2 per PRV
Wheel diameter New: 660 mm
Worn: 600 mm
Wheelbase Per bogie: 2.31 m
Bogie centers: 10 m
Total: 20 m
Maximum speed 60 km/h
Weight Head car: 37.4 t
Intermediate car: 36.5
Axie load 10.7 t
Steep gradient 4%
Traction system Adtranz[f]
Voith[g]
IGBT–VVVF
Traction motors 4 × 125 / 170 kW[h] 3-phase AC induction motor
Power output Original: 500 kW
Refurbished: 680 kW
Acceleration 1.1 m/s²
Deceleration Service: 1.3 m/s² Emergency: 2.08 m/s²
Auxiliaries Auxiliary inverter
HVAC Air-conditioned; roof-mounted duct type (2 units per LRV)
Electric system(s) 750 V DC overhead wire
Current collector(s) Single-arm pantograph
UIC classification Bo′+2′+Bo′
Wheels driven 8 out of 12 per LRV
Bogies Outside-frame type
Minimum turning radius 25 m
Breaking system(s) Regenerative and pneumatic
Safety system(s) ATS (1999–2007)
ATP (2007–present)
Coupling system Semi-permanent
Multiple working Within type
Track gauge 1,435 mm
Standard track gauge
Seating Longitudinal

The LRT Line 1 in Metro Manila reached its capacity in the 1990s. As such, expanding the capacity of Line 1 was needed. Initially, 32 cars with identical specifications to the 1000 class trains were planned to be ordered for the 32 two-car trains operating at the time so that each train would consist of three cars. However, with the increasing transport demand, four-car trains were instead ordered.

On October 18, 1996, Hyundai Precision signed a contract to produce 28 cars (7 sets) for the LRT Line 1. These cars were produced between 1997 and 1998 as its first manufactured light rail vehicle. The capacity extension project was due to traffic congestion and air pollution, which in turn led to an increased demand for public transport in Metro Manila by the LRT Line 1.

The trains were provided by the AML consortium, a consortium consisting of Marubeni Corporation, Adtranz, and ABB.

The capacity expansion project was funded by Japan's official development assistance. The handover ceremony and test-run of the 1100 series LRV was done with former President Joseph Estrada and former Vice-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 1999.

The 1100 class are the first 6-axle (3-bogie) light rail vehicles with two articulated cars in the entire rolling stock of the LRT Line 1, as its predecessor, the 1000 class, was built to the 8-axle (4-bogie) design with three sections.

Car body

The train car body is made of stainless steel. Each LRV has four sliding pocket-type doors per side. The 1100 class trains are 90 millimeters wider than the 1000 class.

Similar to the 1000 class, the 1100 class have cheatlines of blue and yellow that run through its sides. The trains also served as a prototype for future LRVs made by Hyundai Precision, which bears resemblance to the trains used in the Adana Metro and the Istanbul T4 Line.

Each light rail vehicle has two roof-mounted air-conditioning units. In total, there are eight air-conditioning units in a four-car train set.

1100 class train at Gil Puyat station in November 2006

A refurbished 1100 class train in June 2021. Note the new controller box under the door that has been supplied by Voith.

Interior

The trains have longitudinal seating. A wheelchair provision is present near the articulated portion of the intermediate cars.

Image shows stanchions, ACU vents, and briefly, the builders' plate.

1100 class train with seats removed, showing wheelchair space.

View of driving cab before the 2019-2020 refurbishment.

Mechanical

The bogies are of outside-frame type. Each LRV has three bogies consisting of two motorized bogies at the ends of the LRV and one trailer bogie under the articulation. The primary suspension is a chevron rubber spring, while the secondary suspension is an air suspension, similar to the 1200 class.

Semi-permanent couplers are present in the ends of each light rail vehicle except the driving cab section of the MC car.

Traction

The 1100 class trains are the first Line 1 trains to have an IGBT–VVVF traction control system, with each VVVF inverter driving two 3-phase alternating current, enclosed-type induction motors. The original traction motors have a power output of 125 kilowatts, while the new traction motors installed during the refurbishment period have a power output of 170 kilowatts.

The original VVVF controller is supplied by ADtranz, while the new VVVF controller installed during the refurbishment period is supplied by Voith.

The traction equipment in a refurbished train has two Voith EmCon I1000-9AU traction inverters with 350 kVA continuous power in each, two auxiliary inverters, and a VPort IO control unit.

The trainset produces a distinct high-pitched acceleration sound that is unique to the Adtranz VVVF controller used, a trait present in the train's derivative models. After the refurbishment, the traction acceleration sound is now identical to the one used in the MRTC 3100 class trains, as its traction controller is manufactured by Voith as well.

Formation

Four-car configuration
Car no. 1 2 3 4
Designation MC M M MC
Numbering 1101A 1101B 1102A 1102B 1103A 1103B 1104B 1104A
Seated 78 82 82 78
Standing 252 267 267 252
Total 330 349 349 330

Details of the car designations are listed below:
  • MC - driving head car
  • M - intermediate car

  • The 1100 class entered service in 1999, which raised the line's capacity by half from a carrying capacity of 18,000 passengers per hour per direction to 27,000 passengers per hour per direction. After 2001, many vehicles left the service owing to problems in operations and maintenance. Although spare parts had been substantially given in 2004, 14 cars remained out-of-service due to the lack thereof as of 2013, including two cars involved in a collision. Most of the spare parts for the trains, including brake parts, were only procurable from ADtranz. There were attempts to procure spare parts, but these attempts failed. This was affected by the acquisition of ADtranz by Bombardier Transportation in 2001 (later acquired by Alstom in 2021). Furthermore, parts in the 1200 class and the 1100 class only share 20% commonality.

    In addition, these trainsets are commonly used as "skip trains" or trains meant to target a particular station due to extremely high volume of passengers, especially during rush hours. However, these trainsets now stop at all stations when Metro Manila was placed under General Community Quarantine in June 2020 (and eventually, the alert level system in September 2021) as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    A 1100 class trainset was used for the first test run of the LRT Cavite Extension Phase 1 on December 19, 2023. According to the Light Rail Manila Corporation, the 1100 class is the widest in terms of car body, making it the most strategic option to check for initial compatibility of station platforms, walkways, cableways, and others.

    The 1100 class trains normally operate in a 4-car configuration. Under special operating conditions, the trains can operate at a 3-car or 2-car configuration.

    Refurbishments

    Before the rehabilitation of the 1100 class trains, 2 out of the 7 sets remained in service. One of the train units was also involved in a collision as well, causing it to be put out of service due to damaged train body. Rehabilitation was initiated by the Light Rail Manila Corporation in 2018, which aimed to restore the inactive fleet into serviceable conditions and increase the capacity of Line 1. In February 2018, LRMC and Voith signed an agreement to refurbish the said fleet which includes the control devices, traction systems, and automatic diagnostic displays of main circuits. The refurbishment was carried out between 2019 and 2020 and 6 out of 7 sets returned to operation with an extended vehicle life. The remaining unrepaired set is in the Santolan Depot of LRT-2, due to the ongoing expansion of the Line 1 depot.


    Legend

    Either out of service, scrapped, or decommissioned

    Set no. 1 2 3 4
    1 1101 1102 1103 1104
    2 1105 1106 1107 1108
    3 1109 1110 1111 1112
    4 1113 1114 1115 1116
    5 1117 1118 1119 1120
    6 1121 1122 1123 1124
    7 1125 1126 1127 1128

    1. ^ Carbody
    2. ^ Electrical components
    3. ^ Under normal operation. The trains can be operated with 2 cars (Mc–Mc) or 3 cars (Mc–M–Mc).
    4. ^ Total 4-car capacity. The driving head cars can accommodate 330 passengers while the intermediate cars have a capacity of 349 passengers.
    5. ^ 4-car train length. The length of a three-car train is 79.35 meters, while the length of a two-car train is 52.7 meters.
    6. ^ Original; 1999–2020
    7. ^ Refurbished; 2019–present
    8. ^ Original power output of 125 kW, refurbished output of 170 kW.

    LRTA 1000 class
    LRTA 1100 class
    LRTA 1200 class
    LRTA 13000 class