By Emmie V. Abadilla
All 34 elevators, plus 44 out of 46 escalators are now operational at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3 stations, the Department of Transportation ( DOTr) announced yesterday.
The MRT-3 targets to complete its rail replacement works by September this year, several months ahead of its February, 2021 target date. Prior to the MRT-3 rehabilitation works under Japanese contractor Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-TESP, only 19 out of the 46 escalators, and 27 out of 34 elevators were operational.
Notably, the MRT-3 has continued its rail replacement works during the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and MECQ period.
A total of 40,860 out of 65,892 (62.01%) linear meters of rails have been completed as of June 2, 2020, out of which 9,216 (13.98%) linear meters of rails were completed during the ECQ and MECQ.
"The DOTr and the MRT-3 remain firm on our promise to bring back the original state of the rail line's services," announced Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the railways' revenue operations, the operators continued the rehabilitation and maintenance in coordination with the IATF.
The two remaining escalators will be fixed as soon as the needed spare parts arrive in the country. The spare parts ' production and delivery has been put on hold as a result of global COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.