Twenty-one train sets have been deployed on the mainline of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 for the first time in its history, the Department of Transportation said Thursday.
“This is a product of DOTr and MRT-3’s collaboration to improve the rail line’s service for the riding public. We want to keep our commitment to provide our passengers with the best service they can experience. As Secretary (Arthur) Tugade always says, we owe it to our passengers," MRT-3 Director for Operations Michael Capati said.
According to the DOTr, the MRT-3 management was able to exceed in a span of two days the 20 train sets running and operational recorded on Sept. 14.
DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said the maximum capacity of the mainline is now 21 trainsets while the target is up to 24 trainsets.
"First time in history po na nakapag-field o nakapaglabas o nakapagpatakbo ang MRT-3 sa mainline ng 21 train sets. Mayroong time in 2016 kung saan may 22 trains na naging operational. Pero out of the 22 operational trains, 20 trains lang ang napatakbo sa mainline," Libiran shared.
(For the first time in history, MRT-3 was able to field 21 train sets on the mainline. There was a time in 2016 where 22 trains are operational, but of these, only 20 trains were running on the mainline)
No unloading incident has been recorded in the rail line for the past three months or since the resumption of public transportation under general community quarantine last June 1 in a limited capacity.
The overhaul of light rail vehicles and rail replacement works in the entire rail line is part of the massive rehabilitation and maintenance works being done by the Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy from Japan which is expected to be completed in July 2021.
Health and safety protocols are being strictly observed inside the train such as observing appropriate physical distancing, wearing of face shield and face mask, no eating, no talking, and no answering of calls on any digital device.