8 hurt in MRT mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Eight passengers of the Metro Rail Tranit (MRT) were rushed to the hospital when three northbound trains screeched to a stop just before noon yesterday.

MRT general manager Al Vitangcol III said  in a radio interview that “human error” caused a driver to press the train’s emergency brakes, causing it and two other trains to come to a sudden stop at the MRT’s Taft Avenue, Magallanes, and Ayala stations.

He clarified radio reports quoting the Makati police that 10 passengers were hurt in the accident.

“There were eight, not 10,” Vitangcol told Vic de Leon Lima and Karen Davila during their afternoon radio show on dzMM yesterday.

Four passengers were hurt at the Magallanes station and another four were injured at the Ayala station, Vitangcol said, adding that all eight were brought to the hospital by MRT management.

“Three have already been discharged,” Vitangcol said.

He also confirmed during the interview the breakdown of rail line operations last Saturday when the MRT’s southbound tracks were closed due to a glitch in the signaling systems.

A rail line disruption was also reported at the MRT last Monday.

As Vitangcol downplayed yesterday’s accident, hundreds of irate MRT passengers complained about the long wait for trains as the afternoon rush hours started.

One passenger told The STAR that they were told the entire rail line’s signaling system was experiencing problems.

Vitangcol, during the radio interview, said the MRT’s signaling system was installed in 1999, when the rail line started operation. He said there was a need to upgrade the system.

He attributed the MRT’s technical problems – as well as the congestion and long queues – to the inadequate number of trains, which result in the virtually daily overloading of existing trains.

Vitangcol said the MRT’s three-car trains, which have a capacity of 1,118 passengers per trip, often get up to 2,000 passengers per trip during peak hours.

Meanwhile, the Riles Network, a group composed of rail passengers, condemned the government over the mishap.

“The MRT’s poor maintenance is being exploited by the Aquino (administration) and the MRT management to cause delays, injuries and various problems in the hope that such problems will legitimize a fare hike,” the group said in a statement.