PNR 8000 class


The PNR 8000 class, also known as INKA DMUs, is a class of diesel multiple units operated by the Philippine National Railways since 2019.

Design

The trains were manufactured by the Indonesian firm PT Industri Kereta Api, also known as INKA. The design of the 8000 class was based from PT Kereta Api's existing :id:Kereta_rel_listrik_Railink_seri_EA203|EA 203 series electric multiple units, :id:Kereta api Minangkabau Ekspres|Minangkabau Express & :id:Kereta api Solo Ekspres|Solo Express diesel electric multiple units, but the number of doors were increased from two to three double-leaf sliding doors per side and longitudinal seats were used.

Purchase

The Philippine National Railways signed a contract worth Php 485,312,600.00 with the Indonesian firm PT INKA in January 2018 for the purchase of two 3-car diesel multiple units as part of the Reliability and Availability Program. The project was funded from the budget of the then-Department of Transportation and Communications as allocated in the 2015 General Appropriations Act. In 2018, PNR received a budget through the 2018 General Appropriations Act for the purchase of trains.

Operations

The INKA DMUs were inaugurated at Dela Rosa station on December 16, 2019 together with PNR and Department of Transportation officials. It entered revenue service on the same day.
From December 16 to January 14, 2020, PNR offered free rides on these trainsets between Tutuban and FTI and vice-versa, but with 20-passenger limit per station only. The train also had a trial run between Bicutan and Alabang on March 1, 2020 to see how the train will travel along the line. On March 11 and 13, 2020, a passenger trial run of the trainset commenced and catered passengers between Tutuban and Alabang.