MRT 3 breaks down not once but thrice

More than 1,300 passengers were inconvenienced on Monday after three Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) trains broke down at a time when the system was barely meeting the required number of trains that should be in service.

Just a few minutes after the MRT 3 began operations at 5 a.m., a southbound train was forced to unload 300 passengers at GMA-Kamuning station. In an advisory, the MRT 3 management said the train’s motor suffered from electrical failure, possibly due to worn-out electrical subcomponents.

Another southbound train broke down at Boni station at 6:41 a.m., affecting 600 passengers. This time, the train encountered an error in its signaling system.

By 3 p.m., a northbound train unloaded 450 passengers at GMA-Kamuning station after its air-conditioning system failed. Affected commuters had to wait at least 13 minutes for the next train.

The train breakdowns brought to 14 the number of times that the MRT 3 has unloaded its passengers this month.

The glitches come at a time when the MRT 3 is unable to deploy the required 20 trains, especially during peak hours. On Monday, only 12 trains were in service. The number is expected to go up to 18 after Holy Week following the system’s annual extensive maintenance check.