MRT-3 fielding more trains for Christmas

A Metro Rail Transit ( MRT) 3 official promised congressmen yesterday of improved service, especially during the Christmas holidays.

MRT- 3 officer- in- charge Deo Manalo told the House of Representatives committee on transportation that more trains have been fielded since a new maintenance provider was hired.

“We are now fielding up to 20 trains during peak hours, up from 12 to 14 before. This means that we are able to transport more passengers,” Manalo said.

During non-peak hours, he said 12 to 14 train coaches are available.

The MRT’s new service provider is Busan Universal Rail Inc.

Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento told his colleagues that he was satisfied with the MRT- 3 official’s promise of better service.

“This will somewhat ease the suffering of commuters, who line up along the EDSA rail line stations every day for hours,” Sarmiento said.

He said the MRT- 3 transports over 650,000 passengers a day, almost double its capacity of only 350,000.

He said the inadequacy should prompt the government to rehabilitate the rail system and invest in more trains.

Manalo said MRT-3 service would further improve when the rest of the 48 new coaches ordered from China during the Aquino administration arrive next year.

For its part, Busan Universal Rail said it would complete ancillary improvements by the end of the year and would install a new signaling system next year.

It said the signaling system “is a key safety feature.”

The EDSA rail line has been plagued with maintenance and ownership issues.

The government has been trying to take control and ownership of the railway system from private investors led by Robert Sobrepeña of the failed College Assurance Plan, a pioneer in the preneed industry.

In 2014, the Aquino administration included in the budget over P50 billion for the MRT-3 buyout. But the Senate scrapped the appropriation.