Sumitomo Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has readied the materials and machines that will be used in replacing the rail tracks of the MRT-3 which will start late evening on Monday (November 4).

MRT-3 director for operations Eng’r. Michael Capati said the rail replacement will be conducted from 11 in the evening to 4 in the morning until its completion in 2021.

This is so that the daily operation of the MRT will not be affected by the rail replacement.

“Mag-iistart tayo dyan sa station 10 which is Buendia. Ang gagawin dyan is mamayang gabi tatanggalin yung luma, babaklasin yung luma, at ipapalit yung bago at ikakabit ulit,” Capati said.

Once the project is completed, trains will be able to run 60-kph from the current 30-kph.

This will shorten the time interval of train trips to three minutes from the current eight minutes, which will also shorten the travel time of passengers.

The rail replacement is also seen to be compatible with the controversial Dalian trains that the Aquino administration purchased from China.

“Once na na full replacement na natin yung buong riles sa buong ruta ng MRT-3 then pwede na nating magistart ng testing ng 60kph for Dalian (trains),” Capati added.

The compatibility of the Dalian trains to the MRT rails had been an issue which is why the trains were not yet used in the metro train operation.

The rail replacement which is a part of the MRT-3 rehabilitation project is expected to be completed in July 2021. (from the report of Joan Nano) /mbmf

MANILA, Philippines – Hundreds of passengers were offloaded at the northbound Santolan station of the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) after one of its trains was reported to have emitted smoke on Monday afternoon.

In an advisory, the MRT-3 management said around 530 passengers were unloaded after a train driver reported a smoke emission at 4:08 p.m.

A provisional service with seven trains running from Shaw Boulevard to Taft Avenue has been implemented around 4:30 p.m., it added.

The train management assured commuters its rehabilitation and maintenance provider, Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy, will “conduct a thorough investigation” on the incident.

It added that measures will also be implemented to prevent the incident from happening again.

MANILA, Philippines – The Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) on Monday announced it will give free rides to passengers 18 years old and below this coming Wednesday, November 6 in celebration of the 27th National Children’s Month.

In a Twitter post, the MRT-3 management said the offer may be availed from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Students will have to present their school identification cards to get free train rides.

“Pwede itong ma-avail mula alas-7 hanggang alas-9 ng umaga, at mula alas-5 ng hapon hanggang alas-7 ng gabi. Para sa mga estudyante, ipresenta lamang ang inyong School ID sa aming station personnel na nasa service gate upang makalibre ng sakay,” it said.

This year’s National Children’s Month will be celebrated with the theme, “Karapatang Pambata: Patuloy na Pahalagahan at Gampanan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan” according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In a memorandum released last September, the DILG said the celebration aims to recognize the gains and successes of the Philippines in the promotion and protection of children’s rights.