THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) yesterday started deploying four-car trains at the Metro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT-3) during peak hours to accommodate the expected surge in passenger volume after the Holy Week break.
In a statement issued on April 21, the DOTr said the MRT’s three four-car trains are to be deployed during morning and afternoon peak hours, while 16 trains will retain the current three-car configuration.
This move, along with the indefinite extension of the weekday operating hours, follows the directive of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon to improve the commuting experience and ensure safe and comfortable travel.
Increased capacity
With additional train cars, MRT-3 is expected to increase capacity by 30 percent.
As of February this year, MRT-3’s weekday ridership has significantly increased, ranging from 430,000 to 450,000 passengers a day, compared with the 2024 average of 375,474.
MRT-3 resumed operations on Monday after the completion of its annual Holy Week maintenance, which included thorough cleaning, repairs, and the installation of new components for the rail system.
The passenger lighting ballasts of the cars were replaced with new ones. Spare traction motors and other mechanical and electrical parts of the rolling stock were also repaired and reconditioned.
Planned bidding
Meanwhile, DOTr said it plans to bid out the operation and maintenance of MRT-3 this year, as the government’s 25-year Build-Lease-Transfer (BLT) contract with the private consortium Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) is scheduled to end in July 2025.
The DOTr has tapped the Asian Development Bank and the International Finance Corp. as advisors to finalize the terms and references for the bidding of the MRT-3 project.
