Shorter MRT operations on Sunday set due to repairs

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) will again shorten its operations on Sunday to give way to track repairs.

On Sunday, March 22, the first trip from North Avenue will leave four-and-a half hours later at 10 a.m. instead of the usual 5:30 a.m.

Subsequently, the first train will leave the Taft Avenue stations at 10:40 a.m.

The last train will depart from North Avenue at 10 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. from Taft Avenue.

MRT general manager Roman Buenafe has said that the defective railways and the uneven surface of the tracks are among the reasons for the recent operational glitches and frequent slowdown of its trains.

The first part of a series of shortened weekend MRT schedules began on February 28 to March 1. The repairs are expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

MRT will focus on the repair of the critical stretch of tracks that run from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

Buenafe has said that the repairs are the first such major undertaking after the MRT experienced glitches that put the safety of commuters at risk.

The repairs came after the January 4 hike in fares at the MRT-3 and the two other lines of the light rail transit system purportedly to improve their services.