DOTr, MRT-3 sorry for ‘rain’ inside train; blame old air-con

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) expressed regret Wednesday over the heavy water leakage in one of its trains, which video went viral on social media.

“The DOTr MRT-3 sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience brought to passengers by a leak from one MRT-3 air conditioning unit (ACU) yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon,” they said in a statement.

The DOTr and MRT-3 blamed the leak on its decade-old ACU.

“MRT-3’s ACUs were last replaced in 2008 as part of the system’s 1st general overhaul,” the management noted.

“As of November 2017, when DOTr terminated MRT-3’s previous maintenance provider, only three out of MRT-3’s 72 train cars have been overhauled,” it added.

It also said that the 10-year-old ACUs were supposed to be replaced two years ago, or in 2016, prior to the termination of previous maintenance provider’s contract.

The MRT-3 management pointed out that the general overhaul of trains only occurs every eight years.

It further disclosed that the MRT-3 has already procured a total of 78 ACUs, amounting to P116.5 million.

Forty-two ACUs are set to arrive in the country between August 12 and 19 while the remaining 36 sets are likely to arrive before the end of this year.

Nevertheless, the MRT-3 management said, no unloading incident happened despite the “rain” inside one of its coaches.

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In a video posted Tuesday by Giselle Visitacion Tolosa on Facebook, some passengers inside an MRT-3 coach had their umbrellas opened as water gushed in front of them.   /kga