The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) further increased on Monday the railway's operating speed to 50 kilometers per hour (kph), significantly reducing the waiting time for train passengers.
In a statement on Tuesday, the MRT-3 management said the increase in its train speed will minimize the waiting time between trains to only 4 to 5 minutes from the previous 8 to 9.5 minutes when trains were operating at 30 kph.
This means that travel time from North Avenue station to Taft Avenue station will likewise be lessened from 1 hour and 15 minutes to just 1 hour and 5 minutes, the MRT-3 added.
This is part of the management's efforts to give train riders better travel services amid the pandemic through gradually increasing the rail line's operating speed from 30 kph to 40 kph in October, 50 kph in November, and to 60 kph by December.
"With the increased operating speed, MRT-3 passengers can now expect faster travel time, shorter waiting time for train arrivals, and better and comfortable riding experience," MRT-3 Director for Operations Michael Capati said.
Capati added that the last time the MRT-3 was able to run at 50 kph was in September 2014.
According to Capati, the improvement in train speed is a result of the installation of the new long-welded rails in all the MRT-3 stations as part of the massive rehabilitation program of the rail line, which is being implemented by Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries from Japan.
The MRT-3 official added that the management is conducting monthly system checks to test the alignment of the new tracks, the Overhead Catenary System, and signaling and communications to ensure that trains are safe and secured while traveling along the mainline.