Safety first
Despite the changing Philippine labor landscape, especially 24/7 BPO operations, the Department of Transportation said in a statement that 24-hour operations for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 may not be implemented any time soon, as the line cannot afford to delay nor shorten its vital nighttime maintenance activities.
Engineer Oscar Bongon, MRT-3 director for operations, explained that all train sets undergo scheduled maintenance activities at the depot after the last trip in the evening, until before the first trip the next morning.ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓ “Napaka-vital po nito kasi ito po yung ating linya, dito po tumatakbo yung mga tren natin,” Bongon said.
Citing the phasing in maintenance activities, Dir. Bongon explained that any delay in the time schedule would affect other portions of the rail system.Driver’s license backlog could worsen as LTO contract with card supplier becomes subject of TRO“Kailangan ma-ensure na nami-maintain kasi po pag hindi mami-maintain, slowly mag-deteriorate yung system,” Bongon continued.
“Tayo po, iisa lang ang linya natin so we really have to maintain it,” he said. “Yun po ang kaibahan. Gaya sa Japan o Europe, marami silang linyang magkakasabay so pwedeng during nighttime na konti ang passenger demand, papatayin niya ang ibang linya at i-maintain yun at salitan yun so they can operate 24 hours,” he added.
Bongon said the nighttime maintenance of trains involves inspection, cleaning, troubleshooting, washing, shunting or uncoupling, and other preventive activities. From existing 24 three-car trains, the MRT-3 plans to make the rail line operate with four-car trains to accommodate more passengers.ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓ “Kasama yan sa kontrata ng Sumitomo na pag natapos niya na yung expansion, puwede na tayong mag-four-car train bago po matapos ang 2025,” said Bongon.