On the rehabilitation of MRT-3 | Inquirer Opinion

On the rehabilitation of MRT-3

/ 05:01 AM November 18, 2022

I wish to comment on the editorial “Commuters deserve better” (11/13/2022), as it is very relatable to a commuter like me.

The editorial claims that the MRT-3 has “old, poorly maintained railcars.” While the railcars are relatively old, I’ve noted that the reinstated maintenance provider, Sumitomo-MHI-TESP, has been doing a wonderful job of maintaining them, as compared to the previous controversial maintenance provider. There are now more trains, as Sumitomo has said that it managed to overhaul 67 railcars, reducing the commuter wait time from 10 minutes to less than half that. I experienced this myself. In 2019, it would take so many minutes for a train to get to the station, unlike this year, where it took only three to four minutes. Even the interior of the MRT-3 railcar looks new, as it has been repainted white.

I acknowledge that commuting is still difficult, given the long queues at every station. I believe this is because the MRT-3 shouldn’t have been built as a light rail transit in the first place. It should have been a heavy rail transit like the LRT-2, which has a higher passenger capacity. Even with optimal maintenance, being subjected to constant overloading will surely wear out the newly overhauled trains. This is probably why glitches have again occurred, albeit at a lower rate compared to 2018.

Article continues after this advertisement

The increasing workforce population and the resumption of face-to-face work and classes are surely a challenge to the “success” of MRT-3’s rehabilitation. While I am pessimistic about the current political atmosphere, I am hopeful that sensible minds at the Department of Transportation can respond accordingly and proactively.

FEATURED STORIES

Darwin Eugenio,

[email protected]

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: MRT-3

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.