Shorter wait for MRT riders with train speed back to 50 kph

MANILA, Philippines — After six years, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT 3) is back at an operating speed of 50 kph, reducing the headway between trains and the travel time of passengers.

From the previous 8 to 9.5 minutes of headway for trains running at 30 kph, passengers will now just have to wait for trains in four- to five-minute intervals, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The DOTr said the increase in train speed that began on Monday will also reduce travel time from North Avenue station to Taft Avenue station by 10 minutes, or from one hour and 15 minutes to one hour and five minutes.

With the massive rehabilitation of the rail line nearing completion, the MRT 3 has been gradually increasing the operating speed of its train sets from 30 kph to 40 kph in October, and 50 kph in November.

By December, the speed is expected to improve to 60 kph. The last time the MRT 3 was able to run at 50 kph was in September 2014, said the DOTr.

The gradual increase in train speed was made possible after the installation of new rails in all stations of the rail line, as part of the rehabilitation works under its maintenance provider, Japanese company Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The rehabilitation works are expected to be completed in July 2021. Since the pandemic restrictions on public transportation were relaxed in June, the management of the rail system on Edsa said it had been serving an average of 71,714 passengers daily.