MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of unloading incidents from stalled MRT-3 trains are now a thing of the past with the completion of the rail system’s rehabilitation, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
President Duterte and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade inaugurated yesterday the MRT-3 rehabilitation project.
Duterte announced that he and Tugade have decided that MRT-3 rides will be free from March 28 to April 30.
Duterte said the train’s system would not have returned to its original high-grade design without the technical competencies and professional aid of service providers from Sumitomo Corp., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Test Philippines Inc.
He also lauded the DOTr for its efforts to improve the MRT-3 services to the public.
“The MRT-3 is proof that we are keeping our momentum in improving our national road system, which aims to deliver quality service to the Filipinos and respond to the emergency of a new normal,” the President said.
The MRT-3 rehabilitation project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency commenced in 2019.
The MRT-3 underwent a comprehensive upgrade, which included the restoration of 72 light rail vehicles, replacement of rail tracks and rehabilitation of its power supply, overhead catenary system, communications and signaling system, as well as stations and depot facilities.
The DOTr said the MRT-3’s operating speed increased to 60 kilometers per hour from 25 kph.
The number of trains also increased from 13 to as high as 23 operational trains.
Headway or the waiting time between trains has been reduced from 10 minutes to 3.5 minutes.
The DOTr said end-to-end travel time from the MRT-3 North Avenue station to Taft Avenue station has been reduced to 45 minutes from one hour and 15 minutes. – Alexis Romero