Gap found in MRT-3 train’s coupler

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) removed a train yesterday morning after a gap of two millimeters was found in a train’s coupler.

The train operator did not allow commuters to board the train at the Taft Avenue station after he noticed that a rubber bushing was torn out from the coupler, a device that connects two train cars, said Ric Inotorio, MRT-3 director for operations.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the MRT-3 has removed the affected train from the tracks and brought it back to its depot in Quezon City to avoid the possibility of decoupling.

Inotorio attributed the torn bushing to “wear and tear.” 

Reacting to DOTr’s statement, Inotorio said there is no possibility that train cars would be detached because they are “tightly coupled” and the gap was immediately noticed by the train operator.  

Some train cars were detached last week between the Ayala and Buendia stations in Makati City. The train’s messma card or black box, which records all interventions of the train’s system, went missing. 

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has taken over the investigation of the missing messma card and the reasons behind the decoupling of train cars, giving weight to claims of sabotage. 

The decoupling forced Cesar Chavez, DOTr undersecretary for railways, to tender his irrevocable resignation.

A lawmaker urged Chavez to fully disclose the reasons for his sudden resignation.

“Something does not add up in his story that he quit because of delicadeza or propriety,” Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said.

He said there seemed to be an unseen hand in Chavez’s resignation.

“His resignation was not compatible with his earlier assurance to the public that he and DOTr Secretary Art Tugade were on top of the situation regarding the MRT-3 and that better service was expected in the next three to six months,”Castelo said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe expressed alarm over DOTr officials’ indecision and lack of teamwork.

Chavez said the officials were too slow in making decisions and failed to give the necessary support to implement urgent reforms and programs to make the rail line efficient and safer.