Austria to donate metro trains

Manila: Vienna, the major city of Austria, announced it will give its second-hand trains to the Philippines as part of the expansion programme of the overhead Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system, an official said.

Vienna's city government said it will donate up to 48 light rail vehicles (LRVs). "The first units will start arriving by December," transportation and communications assistant secretary Robert Castañares said. "The trains are still in use in Austria." Castañares said about $500,000 (Dh1.8 million) will be spent on refurbishments to each car to ensure their safety.