MRT-3 breaks ‘no malfunction streak’ with train electrical failure

The Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) broke its three-day no malfunction streak on Thursday after a northbound train with an electrical failure in its motor, was forced to stop at the Santolan-Annapolis Station.

In an advisory, MRT-3 media relations officer Aly Narvaez said some 800 commuters were offloaded from the crippled train after stopping at the station at 10:37 a.m.

This was the fifth MRT-3 train glitch to be reported this month. No malfunction was reported in the transit line since February 5.

Narvaez said the train was immediately transported back to the depot for preventive maintenance and replacement of its electrical components.

The offloaded passengers were then loaded into the next train which arrived six minutes at the station following the incident.

As of 11:00 a.m., only seven MRT-3 trains were left operational and running with a headway of 11 minutes for commuters waiting at train stations, Narvaez said.

The MRT-3 official said the glitch may have been caused by worn out electrical sub-components, which included parts such as regulators, insulators and choppers.

READ: DOTr blames former maintenance provider BURI for MRT-3 woes

Necessary spare parts intended to keep MRT-3 trains in working order were scheduled to arrive this February, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier assured the public.  /muf