MANILA, Philippines – With trains filled to more than maximum capacity, especially during rush hours on weekdays, overloading and wear and tear have caused serious concerns regarding the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).
MRT general manager Roberto Lastimoso said that the “extremely high number of passengers” at the EDSA rail line has exceeded the maximum capacity of trains at peak hours.
Lastimoso said that with rising bus and jeepney fares in Metro Manila and the traffic snarls on EDSA, the MRT has been seeing a continued increase in the number of passengers in the past weeks.
“We’re going over the maximum capacity, and it’s unbelievable during Fridays and paydays,” he said.
To make up for the strain on the trains, Lastimoso said that the management is focusing on thorough rolling stock inspections for wear and tear and maintenance.
“We’re giving high priority to maintenance. We’re closely checking our maintenance contractor to ensure that our trains are being inspected and given the necessary preventive maintenance and repairs, if needed,” he said.
He said he is also pushing vigorously for the buyout of the build-operate-transfer contract of the MRT Corp. (MRTC) by the government so that a capacity expansion can be conducted, such as the one made by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) on the LRT Line 1 from Baclaran in Parañaque to Monumento in Caloocan.
He explained that the current MRT operated by the MRTC is not inclined to undertake any capacity expansion during their 25-year contract.
In a buyout, the government could undertake a capacity expansion, Lastimoso said. — Rainier Allan Ronda