The Line 1 was constructed through a loan given by the Belgian Government. An additional loan package was given by ACEC, BN, TEI, and TC to the construction of the line. The trains were included in the second loan package. The trains were manufactured by BN, while the electrical equipment supplied were from ACEC. A total of 64 trains were built between 1982 and 1983.
Design
Structure
The length of car is, of width and of height. The LRVs are double-articulated with 5 door swing plug-type doors per side, and is an 8-axle rigid body. The carbody is made of BI sheet. Prior to the first refurbishment, the 1000 class wore an orange and cream-white livery under the "Metrorail" branding, and notably had "mushroom-cap" roof-mounted ventilation.
Traction unit
The bogie is inside frame type, traction control system is thyristorchopper type. The traction motor is a straight-wound motor. The transmission is a right-angle link drive transmitted via gears and two elastic couplings.
Operations
The trains originally ran on a two-car configuration. In 1999, it was converted into a three-car configuration when LRTA refurbished the trains and purchased 7 four-car trains from Hyundai Precision. Not all of the train cars are capable to be coupled to form three-car sets however.
First Refurbishment (1999–2009)
Phase 1
In the early 1990s, the line faced problems due to poor maintenance and overcrowding. In addition, the forced ventilation units could no longer cool the trains properly. In 1999, thirty-two 1st generation LRVs underwent refurbishment. Generally, this involved the repair of the carbody. The project included the introduction of the new livery, replacement of seats and other interior modifications, installation of new components, and modification of the roof for the installation of air conditioning units. Replacement and cleaning of electrical components were not included.
Phase 2
The thirty-one remaining LRVs that were not modernized in Phase 1 underwent refurbishment in 2004. The electrical components of the thirty-two LRVs refurbished in Phase 1 were cleaned and replaced. As of February 28, 2009, the project is complete.
Second Refurbishment (2016–)
The Light Rail Manila Corporation took over the operations and maintenance of Line 1 on September 12, 2015. At that time, there were only 77 running LRVs. To increase the running trains and reduce the headway, the company initiated the second refurbishment of the 1000 class LRVs in 2016 worth Php 1 billion. The refurbishment includes the removal of rust from the carbody, repainting, replacement of flooring, and installation of new LED lighting. Out of service LRVs were also repaired and reentered revenue service. As of May 31, 2017, there are 102 running LRVs, increasing the trips from 498 to 554.
Incidents and accidents
On Rizal Day in the year 2000, a train exploded at Blumentritt station as part of a series of explosions in a terrorist attack known as the Rizal Day bombings. The attack on Line 1 killed some 22 people and injured hundreds. The damaged train was decommissioned immediately after the incident. No confirmed plans were announced on its ultimate fate, whether it would be restored or scrapped. The train, together with other trainsets involved in accidents, are currently stored at the Line 2 Santolan Depot in Pasig. On February 18, 2011, two trains collided near Roosevelt Station in Quezon City on Friday at the reversing tracks, around a kilometer away to the east. No passengers were injured. The cause of the collision is yet to be determined, whether due to driver error or technical malfunction. On May 23, 2015, thousands of passengers were stranded after a train of Line 1 slammed into another train near the Monumento station. A train driver was hurt after the impact caused his head to slam into the dashboard of the train. The accident, later revealed to be caused by power fluctuation that affected the signalling system, forced passengers to alight from the station until services was restored around 1 pm at the same day.
