Palace apologizes to commuters over LRT collision

MALACAÑANG on Sunday issued an apology a day after two trains of the Light Railway Transit (LRT) Line 1 collided near the Monumento station in Caloocan City.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that the Aquino administration is doing its best to improve Metro Manila’s railway systems.

“Humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa ating mga mamamayan habang patuloy na isinasakatuparan ng pamahalaan ang pagpapahusay sa serbisyo ng LRT at MRT (We apologize to the commuters as the government continues to improve the services in the LRT and the MRT),” Coloma said over radio dzBB.

He added that the administration stands on its commitment in providing safety and comfort to the commuters.

Coloma said that the investigation on the accident is still ongoing.

Reports said that a driver was injured due to the train crash.

Saturday’s LRT collision affected the operations of LRT 1 as trips from Monumento to Roosevelt stations were suspended for hours.

LRTA Spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said that the collision might have been caused by power fluctuation in the area which affected the communications between the two trains.

Cabrera maintained on Sunday that trains are safe even if were hit by power fluctuation.

“Even power fluctuates, trains are safe because signaling system will stop the trains, unless operator bypass the system. Did the operator manually bypass the system is one of the many questions in the ongoing investigation,” Cabrera said on his Twitter account. AC

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