The Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) has 100 percent completed the overhauling of its 72 train coaches or light rail vehicles (LRVs) on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. The last train coach overhauled was accepted for revenue service on February 2, 2023.
Considered as a significant feat, the completion of the overhauling of the 23-year-old fleet of the rail line allows the MRT-3 to expand its train capacity by deploying available and reliable train sets at peak hours.
The increased train availability means that the rail line can now deploy 18 to 21 train sets at peak hours, from the maximum of 10 to 15 train sets the MRT-3 can deploy at peak hours before all LRVs were overhauled.
All of the newly-overhauled LRVs have undergone the required quality and safety checks to ensure they are in good condition and safe for passengers’ use.
“With the completion of the LRV overhauling project, the passengers can expect more comfortable and convenient train rides as all the train coaches have been repaired and restored to good condition,” said MRT-3 Director for Operations Engr. Oscar B. Bongon.
The overhauling project commenced in 2019 with the reinstatement of Sumitomo-MHI-TESP as the maintenance provider of MRT-3. The Sumitomo-MHI-TESP is the Japanese consortium that designed and built the MRT-3 system, and had maintained it from the start of operations in 2000 until 2012, when their contract expired.
The massive rehabilitation of the MRT-3 rail line was also completed by Sumitomo-MHI-TESP in December 2021. It involved the upgrades of the MRT-3 subsystems, including the replacement of the whole stretch of its revenue tracks, and the upgrading of signaling system, among others.
The completed rehabilitation of the MRT-3 rail line has increased the train operating speed from 30 kph to 60 kph, reduced headway from 8.5-9 mins to 3.5-4 mins during peak hours and 5 mins during off-peak hours. The travel time had also been reduced from 1hr and 15 mins to only 30-35 mins from North Avenue Station to Taft Avenue Station.
