Manila: Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon observed shorter queues at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) following the deployment of three four-car trains during peak hours.
According to Philippines News Agency, Dizon made the observation during an inspection of the MRT-3 with Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda and MRT-3 General Manager Michael Capati. Dizon stated that the move is in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ease the daily commute of passengers. The deployment aims to improve the flow of passengers in and out of train stations and reduce waiting times.
The DOTr and MRT-3 are also exploring the adoption of a cashless payment system for purchasing single-journey tickets. The deployment of the four-car trains commenced on Monday, operating from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., to address the increased demand during rush hours.
The MRT-3 continues to operate 16 other trains with the existing three-car configuration. Each train car can hold up to 394 passengers, allowing the four-car trains to accommodate up to 1,576 passengers.
The introduction of four-car trains during peak hours follows the completion of the MRT-3's Holy Week maintenance, during which all of the line's subsystems underwent annual preventive maintenance to ensure safe and orderly operations. In March, the MRT-3 also extended its evening operating hours by at least one hour on weekdays after Dizon's inspection and discussions with commuters.
