MRT rail replacement to start Monday night

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