MRT-3 trains still on limited operation due to air-conditioning problems

Long queues of passengers make their way inside an MRT train. FILE PHOTO

Thousands of commuters of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) will continue to endure longer waiting time on its train stations due to the limited number of trains in operation.

Only five trains were operational at around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, which were increased to nine trains shortly before 6 a.m.

On Monday morning, only seven trains of the MRT-3 were operational due to problems on its air-conditioning unit.

READ: MRT deploys only 7 trains on first day of school

To ease the number of stranded passengers, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed its shuttle buses to offer free rides to passengers of the MRT-3.

According to a radio report, MRT-3 General Manager Roman Buenafe said most of the MRT trains have air-conditioning problem but assured that their maintenance team is doing the repairs on the defective trains.

As of posting, 12 MRT trains are now operational.

On April 22, the MRT-3 hit the lowest number of operational trains with only four trains running from the usual 14.

The MRT-3 was designed to serve 350,000 passengers daily but about 600,000 take its trains every day. IDL