The 40-meter-long Hybrid Electric Road Train developed by Filipino engineers from Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center is expecting to hit the highways of General Santos City this October after its trial run in Cebu City last February.
The train consists of five interlinked air-conditioned coaches, can hold up to 240 passengers per trip, and is expected to provide technological solutions to urban transport concerns like traffic congestion, of which General Santos City is currently facing.
It is mainly designed for roads and not for rails, thus the HERT only runs at maximum speed of 50 kph.
DoST Regional Director Dr. Zenaida Hadji Raof Laidan will extends support and commitment in implementing the road project, as the regional office ties up with the GenSan local government and DOST MIRDC.
“As part of the preparation of its implementation in General Santos City, DoST MIRDC is conducted series of route assessments and inspections to ensure viability of using the road train in the main roads of the city,” said Laidan.
Based on the route survey, the HERT will initially start at Barangay Katangawan, then pass through Lagao Public Market, the national highway, and the city’s circumferential road going to Gensan Fish Port.
“Aside from serving a mass number of daily commuters around the city, the HERT also advocates a greener use of technology, as it is powered by electric batteries instead of solely diesel fuel, thus creating lesser carbon emission,” she added.
This road train project is being deployed for trial runs to ensure that it meets the standards prior to its complete rollout to urban cities. The field testing of HERT in the road of General Santos City may ease the burden of daily commuters if the city will adopt the technology upon the completion of the trial run.
Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña agreed to donate the HERT to the city if it is viable and effective to decongest the main roads of GenSan.