No MRT 3 operations on 4 weekends

Operations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 will be suspended on selected weekends in the next three months to give way to scheduled rail replacement works. In a statement on Tuesday, the MRT 3 management said there would be no train operations on July 4 to 5, Aug. 8 to 9, Aug. 21 to 23 and Sept. 12 to 13. The replacement of the tracks is expected to be completed by September to ensure the train system’s smooth operations amid limited public transport options in Metro Manila. According to the Department of Transportation, the weekend suspensions will also allow service provider Sumitomo-Mitsubishi to perform “rail destressing, rerailing, turnouts replacement, resurfacing, rail profile grinding, ballasting and tamping, and other major works for MRT 3’s trains, electrical systems and other subsystems.” Once finished, the operating speed of Metro Manila’s busiest train system is expected to go up from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour by December. —Krixia Subingsubing