Holy week is maintenance week for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), LRT Line 2 (LRT-2), Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), and Philippine National Railways (PNR).
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Tuesday afternoon, March 23 that the country’s train lines will suspend operations next week to give way to annual maintenance and rehabilitation works.
"The Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3), which runs from the North Avenue Station to the Taft Avenue Station, will have its scheduled maintenance and rehabilitation from 30 March 2021 (Holy Tuesday) to 04 April 2021 (Easter Sunday)," the DOTr said in a statement.
According to MRT-3 Director for Operations Michael Capati, the line's temporary shutdown will allow its Japanese maintenance provider, Sumitomo-MHI-TESP to conduct needed repair and maintenance works. These will include the replacement of turnout parts for depot tracks and other remaining works on the guideway.
"The MRT-3 will also rehabilitate its power supply and carry out other rehabilitation works, including equipment installation; cable laying/termination; point machine replacement; and the removal, re-installation, and calibration for turnouts. The MRT-3 will also check its communications system during the Holy Week break," the agency said.
Meanwhile, LRT-1 and LRT-2 will both be closed to commuters from March 31 (Holy Wednesday) to April 4. The LRT-1 runs from Baclaran in Parañaque City to Monumento in Caloocan City, while LRT-2 stretches from its Recto station in Manila to its Santolan in Marikina City.
"During the shutdown, the LRT-1 will conduct maintenance works on the line's various sections and facilities. To ensure quality operational condition of the rail line, its heavy maintenance section, light maintenance section, overhead catenary section, power distribution sector – rectifier substation system, signaling and telecom section, tracks and civil section, building and facilities section, and depot equipment section will undergo maintenance and repair works from Holy Wednesday until Easter Sunday," the DOTr said.
Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) spokesperson, lawyer Hernando Cabrera said that the trains and facilities of LRT-2 will be cleaned and checked for needed repairs, replacement, and preventive maintenance during the break. To be checked are the line's stations and facilities, electronics and telecommunications systems, the overhead catenary system, train coaches, the power system, rectifiers, signaling system, and tracks.
"The LRT-1, LRT-2, and the MRT-3 lines will resume operations on 5 April 2021 (Monday)," the agency said.
The PNR will also be suspending its operations on April 1 (Maundy Thursday), except for the Calamba-Tutuban route. The railway will then suspend all train operations from April 2 to 3 (Good Friday, Black Saturday).
On Easter Sunday, the PNR will immediately resume operations on the following routes: Tutuban-Alabang and vice versa, Tutuban-Calamba and vice versa, Tutuban-Gov. Pascual and vice versa, Gov. Pascual-Bicutan and vice versa, and Naga-Sipocot and vice versa. The railway will resume normal train operations on Monday, April 5.
PNR General Manager Junn Magno said the PNR will also activate ‘Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2021’ to provide adequate, safe, and reliable passenger train service for commuters in Metro Manila (Area 1) and Bicol (Area 2) during the Holy Week.