User:Hachijo8/NSCR2

I will not submit this article for review until an official name for this class becomes available. DO NOT publish this article until a final name and design has been announced.

The PNR Airport Express EMU is the temporary classification for electric multiple unit trains to be built by a consortium of Spanish manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles and Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation for the North–South Commuter Railway. These shall serve as airport express trains connecting Clark International Airport in Pampanga with Buendia in Makati and Alabang in Muntinlupa.

Fifty-six railcars were ordered for €150 million (US$161 million) and will be arranged into seven 8-car trainsets.

Design
The PNR Airport Express Train belongs to the CAF Civity family of regional and commuter trains. The design is based off the trains being used on the Mexican El Insurgente service, which incorporates the exteriors of the existing Civity and the earlier Civia designs, the latter being used for Cercanías commuter rail services in Spain. The trainsets will use a red livery akin to other upcoming standard gauge rolling stock, notably the CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive diesel multiple units for the PNR South Long Haul project.

Interior
The trains will feature a transverse seating layout vestibuled train unlike the regular commuter trains, which uses longitudinal seating. Two Western accessible toilets are provided on each end car. In contrast with the El Insurgente trains these were modeled after, the interior will also feature moquette seats and flooring.

Other features
Four motor cars shall use the

Early history
The Philippine National Railways does not operate any airport train services. Ninoy Aquino International Airport is technically served by Nichols station on the other side of the Sales Interchange. However it has operated express trains throughout its history, with the last example being the short-lived Los Baños–Tutuban Premiere Train which used KiHa 59 series diesel multiple units between 2019 and 2020.

There were also a number of proposals to connect Metro Manila and Clark International Airport by rail. The first known explicit mention of an airport express service was in June 2013 when the Japan International Cooperation Agency made a proposal to succeed the thwarted Northrail project. Another one of these was the 2013 Clark–Metro Manila Bullet Train Project which would connect the airport with Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati via Balintawak in Quezon City and Dimasalang Street in northern Manila using an entirely new alignment separate from the Northrail project.

Sample images later emerged in 2018 during the feasibility studies featuring both the Keisei AE series and Kenji Ekuan designs such as the E259 series.

Recent history
Bidding documents for contract package NS-03 which the airport express trainsets were first published on February 26, 2021. Bidding then commenced on October 15 that year. Three competing bids submitted their designs, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Sojitz, Mitsubishi with CAF as its rolling stock partner, and Marubeni who invited Stadler Rail with a high-floor version of the FLIRT 200 as its submission. Mitsubishi and CAF won the bidding

Design
Japanese manufacturers shall design an intercity-grade trainset for an airport rail link service. The closest equivalent in Japan is the Keisei AE series being used for the Skyliner services to Narita Airport. Images of this trainset were also used prior to the reveal of the preliminary design on February 2021, which is a combination of E353 series and E259 series.

Three bidders are competing for the final design selection of the limited express sets: Kawasaki Railcar and Sojitz joint venture, Marubeni and Stadler Rail partnership, and Mitsubishi–CAF consortium. Marubeni proposed the Stadler FLIRT as its submission. Kawasaki appears to use an original trainset design as its submission. Lastly, Mitsubishi is yet to reveal its proposal.

With the train appearance expected to be revised heavily from the original plans to allow the Japanese firms to work on their designs, the 2021 report instead focuses on specifications and non-appearance-related characteristics such as performance, layout, seating, and safety.

Car layout and seating
Each of the 56 cars shall be built as a vestibuled train with open coach seating, described in government requirements as a "cross-seating arrangement". Vestibules shall act as an intermediary between the train doors and the passenger saloon. The two areas are separated by a gangway door that will keep the saloon airtight and cooled by air conditioning. The saloon and the vestibules shall also be fitted with contrasting floor materials to distinguish both zones.

Meanwhile, the seats are to be made with a soft material and will have a moquette flooring. The seat is designed to be waterproof and resistant to vandalism and fire damage, though the exact material will be left to the manufacturer. There is also allowance for limited recline. Finally, there shall be one socket per seat. The sockets are designed to the 220V, 60Hz power grid in the country. They shall also be compatible with NEMA Type A and B plugs as well as the Europlug Type C. USB sockets shall also be added for mobile phone charging. There are also baggage spaces in the form of overhead racks and allowances located behind the seats located nearest to the vestibule.

The preliminary design also appears to use a single-class arrangement due to the shortness of the trip, with it expected to last over 1 hour. In comparison, the diesel multiple units which will be used for the PNR South Long Haul will feature a 3-class layout.

Displays and audio
Two types of electronic displays will be used for the trains. The first is a 17-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screens which shall show the destination, next station, transit information, line map, and time for both local time and arrival will be displayed. One unit will be placed near the gantry doors. Additionally, 21-inch LCD screens will be allocated for overhead advertising in the saloon. The manufacturers should consider the location of the advertising equipment to avoid conflict with the garbage racks. Additional LCDs will also be provided for the exterior and on some guidance equipment.

A passenger announcement system shall also be installed throughout the train. Aside from public address (PA) speakers, a combination of live and recorded audio messaging shall be used. Recorded audio will be stored in an audio library which is under the control of the train driver. At the very least, announcements will be made in both English and Filipino languages. Every announcement will be first made in English before being repeated in Filipino. Meanwhile, the driver shall also be allowed to use the PA system to broadcast emergency and safety information. All else shall be pre-recorded. Additional audio aboard the train aside from the PA system include its identifier chimes and door closing alert sounds.

Electrical equipment
The design of the NSCR necessitates that electric trains are powered by a 1,500 volt direct current electrification system and traction power shall be distributed via overhead lines. Current will be collected through a derivative of PS37A and PS39 single-arm pantographs. Three pairs of pantographs will be located on cars 2, 4 and 6. The pantographs will be arranged in an outward-facing position or ‹ ›, with the "elbows" of the arms facing the front and rear end of each car.

All intermediate cars will be motor cars while the lead cars are unpowered trailer cars. There will be different traction equipment in each intermediate car. While there shall be variable frequency drive inverters on cars that equip pantograph equipment, additional alternating current (AC) motors and compressors. There are also batteries on the trailer lead cars as additional auxiliary power.

Toilets
There shall be two Western restrooms per train with each located on the two end cars as suggested by the original design. These will be composed of standard toilet accommodations in other countries, which include one vacuum toilet, fresh water and waste tanks capable for storage of up to three days, garbage bin, foldable baby bed, and a faucet and sink set for hand washing, with the addition of a bidet shower that is a common toilet accessory in the region. These are also subject to universal design requirements in the subsection below.

Universal design
The trains are designed for accessibility seating in mind. Six priority seats and one wheelchair space shall be allocated per car and must be clearly labeled with a decal. Additional notices shall also be indicated in both English and Filipino. Toilets are particularly designed for ease of use by wheelchair users. Accessibility features for toilets include handrails and wheelchair space is required to be close to the toilets.

Service
The trains are yet to be constructed. They are expected to enter service upon the completion of the NSCR Phase 2, dubbed the Malolos–Clark Railway Project.

Comparable services

 * Airport Rail Link (Bangkok) in Thailand
 * KLIA Transit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 * Soekarno–Hatta Airport Rail Link in Jakarta, Indonesia
 * El Insurgente connecting Mexico City and Toluca.

Comparable trainsets

 * CAF Civity
 * Keisei AE series (2009), used in promotional material during the initial offerings.
 * Siemens Desiro, trainsets used in Bangkok ARL, and KLIA Ekspres and Transit services.
 * Stadler FLIRT, European-built trainsets in which Marubeni's proposal is based upon.