MRT train stalls on New Year’s Day due to damaged tracks

Irked commuters could not do anything but leave the Santolan station after an MRT train stalled as it approached the Ortigas station due to damaged tracks. Photo by Aries Joseph Hegina / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines– New year, same old problems.

Three days before the scheduled implementation of a fare hike on Jan. 4, a Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 train plying southbound stalled for five minutes as it approached the Ortigas station Thursday afternoon due to broken tracks at 4:35 p.m.

The driver of the train said that the train would be diverted back to Santolan station “for safety” reasons.

“May nadetect po na damaged tracks. Kailangan pong bumalik sa Santolan station for safety,” the driver said.

(We detected damaged tracks. The train needs to return to Santolan station for safety.)

The train was brought back to Santolan station at 4:50 p.m., the passengers obviously irked as they descended the train.

After the train had arrived at the station, MRT personnel said that passengers could still use their single-journey tickets three days after the incident.

Northbound and southbound MRT operations from Shaw Boulevard station to North Avenue station have also been suspended.

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