MANILA - The Department of Transportation said Thursday it selected a German firm to determine whether or not Chinese-made trains made for the MRT-3 were safe to use.

The 48 cars or light rail vehicles from Chinese firm Dalian had not been used by the capital's busiest rail system due to concerns that they might not be compatible with the tracks.

Germany's TUV Rheinland will do an independent audit and assessment or IAA, said transportation undersecretary for rail TJ Batan.

"Na-deliver na po yung mga bagon (The cars have been delivered), but we are unable to accept them unless our IAA consultant has certified their safety and compatibility with our system," Batan told reporters.

The DOTr earlier said that MRT trains should weigh 46,300 kilos but the ones delivered by Dalian weighed 49,700 each. Questions were also raised over the new trains' compatibility with the MRT's signalling system.

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