Once more, with feeling: DOTr promises improved MRT 3 operations

Better days ahead?—Inquirer file photo

For the nth time, transportation officials promised long-suffering riders of the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) of improved train services in the coming days.

On Tuesday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) vowed that the public could expect better service from the MRT 3 with the expected arrival of spare parts needed to repair and maintain defective trains. The bulk of the first batch of spare parts were expected to arrive today until Friday.

The rolling stock and track parts set to be received today by DOTr are from Linkers Enterprises and Nikka Trading, respectively.

The two were tapped by the government in December to supply the close to P16 million worth of spare parts needed by Metro Manila’s busiest railway system.

With the delivery of the spare parts, the public would “slowly experience better service at the MRT 3,” the DOTr said.

The oft-repeated promise was made as operations of the MRT 3 continued to deteriorate.

At 5 p.m. on Monday, the number of operational trains dropped to just seven, resulting in an 11-minute wait for passengers at the different stations.

Normally, the MRT 3 should have 15 trains in operation during rush hour and 12 trains at off-peak hours.

The deteriorating services and the long wait in between trains have led to a drop in ridership.

On Monday, the MRT 3 served close to 259,000 passengers, a steep drop from last year’s daily average of 463,000 passengers.

To help augment its operations, transport authorities have redeployed point-to-point or P2P buses during the morning rush hour.