Is change finally coming for the Metro Manila’s dilapidated Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 lines?
According to an MRT official, they anticipate that there would be no more lines at the usually packed public transit systems’ stations.
Engineer Deo Leo Manalo, director for operations of MRT 3, said this during a Senate hearing on public services led by Senator Grace Poe.
“By end of the year po, we’re projecting…actually ngayon po, sir, may pila sa peak hours but during off peak, wala na pong pila. But end of the year, sir, sigurado pong mawawala na ‘yung pila,” Manalo was quoted by Inquirer.net. (There are no more lines during off-peak hours)
The good news, he said, “by yearend, expect no commuters lining up at Metro Rail Transit (MRT ) 3 stations.”
The MRT 3 has 23 trains that can caarry about 500,000 passengers a day, but says that that number would increase to 700,000 by 2018. He said that they aim to have a “more efficient operations” and an increased capacity to 800,000 passengers by 2019.
Senator Grace Poe probed the MRT’s Manalo: “So in summary, you’re saying from the current 500,00, hopefully by 2019— you will have 800,000 capacity?””
“So right now, these are all up in the air and are wish list because for now, we still have the signaling system to test to make sure there’s no feedback.”
“Mababawasan po ang pila (There’ll be less lines),” Manalo replied.
Long lines, mechanical failures and mishaps leading to injuries have plagued the deteriorating train system for years.
According to ABS-CBNNews, Emilio “Jun” Abaya, who served as transportation secretary under the administration of Benigino Aquino III, said the MRT system was carrying up to 560,000 passengers a day in 2014, above its intended capacity of 360,000 passengers a day.
Abaya is also being summoned to answer questions by the Senate as to why 48 trains purchased for PHP3.8 billion (USD76 million), despite being touted as the Aquino administration’s solution to the MRT’s problems, could not be used.
The MRT3 management laid out operating plans from 2017 to 2019 to the Senate panel.
According to a report by Rappler, the MRT 3 is eyeing the deployment of more cars next month, or at least 2 more 3-car Dalian trains during off-peak hours.
By December 2017, 15 4-car Czech-made trains and 5 additional 4-car Dalian trains would be deployed, increasing the daily capacity to 600,000 passengers.
By April 2018, a total of 9 4-car Dalian trains would increase the capacity to 700,000 passengers daily, then to 800,000 by April 2019.
