The Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 will be ending its operations two-and-a-half hours early for a week to give way to the installation of new power cables.
The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said on Thursday that from July 27 to Aug. 2, train operations would stop at 7:30 p.m. in both directions to allow the installation of new electrical lines between the Pureza and Legarda stations.
Closing time will go back to 10 p.m. starting on Aug. 3, it added. The LRT 2 has been operating at a limited capacity since its reopening on June 1, not only due to the strict enforcement of protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease but also because three of its easternmost stations remain shut.
Transformers damaged
The Anonas, Katipunan and Santolan stations were forced to stop operations in October last year after an electrical fire destroyed the three transformers that supplied them power, as well as the LRT 2 depot in Santolan.
The procurement process for needed parts, however, was put on hold during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, further pushing back the deadline for the LRT 2’s return to normal operations to September instead of July, according to LRTA spokesperson Hernando Cabrera.
The LRTA approved the P71-million project consultancy contract for the restoration and rehabilitation of the three stations in March. However, it has yet to be awarded up to now.
Under the original timetable, the contractor—Westrax Joint Venture, also the consultant for the LRT 2 Masinag extension—had one month to finish working on the trains’ temporary power supply system before it scaled up to normal operations.
Full review
The contract’s detailed scope of works included, among others, a full review and validation of the contracts undertaken by the LRTA regarding the rehabilitation of the train line’s power, optic cables, signalling and telecommunications.
Westrax will also prepare and certify the scope of works, specifications and the approved budget for the contract and help the LRTA in the procurement of contractors.