MRT-3 says sorry after faulty escalator triggers crowding at station

MRT-3 train (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) issued an apology after a faulty escalator at its Ortigas station caused the crowding of passengers and congestion on Thursday morning.

In a statement, the MRT-3 management said the defective escalator which was closed for “safety reasons,” forced train passengers and pedestrians to crowd at the northbound stairway’s exit and entrance.

“We extend our deepest apologies to all our passengers who were inconvenienced by the incident,” said the management of MRT-3 in its statement.

“We assure the public that we will take all the necessary steps, such as the deployment of standby technicians, and close coordination with the Road Sector in crowd management, to prevent this incident from happening again,” it added.

The MRT-3 management explained that the narrow walkway also contributed to the congestion as only one person can walk through at a time.

“However, no long queues were observed inside the MRT-3 platform and concourse area,” it said.

In an attempt to control and manage the crowd, the MRT-3 said the station’s security personnel implemented a “stop-and-go” scheme.

Passenger flow was also normalized at around 9:30 a.m. after technicians repaired the escalator.

RELATED STORIES:

MRT-3: Cooler, faster trains for commuters on 1st day of month-long free rides

MRT-3 extends ‘Libreng Sakay’ program until June 30

/MUF