O&M agreement signed for Manila LRT Line 1

Japan-based Sumitomo Corporation has signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Hankyu Corporation to collaborate for the operations and maintenance (O&M) of Line 1 of the Manila Light Rail Transit (LRT) network. This is Hankyu Corporation’s first investment in railway operation and maintenance business outside Japan.

Under the agreement, Sumitomo Corporation will transfer part of the shares indirectly held by Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the current operator of Line 1, to JICA and Hankyu Corporation. Sumitomo Corporation acquired 19.2 per cent of LRMC in 2020. Other shareholders of LRMC are Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (PHILIPPINES) Private Limited.

Line 1 spans about 20 km and covers 20 stations. Works are underway to extend the line by 7 km by the end of 2024.