Just when trains are starting to accommodate more passengers, MRT-3 will temporarily be shut down by the end of October until Nov. 2. But it is for a good cause, really.
According to the Department of Transportation, operations will be suspended for three days to make way for maintenance. This will include bushing replacement and turnout activity care of Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, MRT’s Japanese service provider, and TES Philippines.
“Parte ng gagawing bushing replacement ng 34.5-kilovolt alternating current (kV AC) switch gear ay ang pagsasayos ng bus tie na nagbibigay ng supply ng kuryente sa depot mula sa Meralco power source nito sa Balintawak at Diliman, at pagkukumpuni ng isang panel na mayroong 12 bushing unit,” DOTr’s statement read.
The maintenance will also focus on the 2A and 2B turnout sections on Taft Avenue. Turnout is the mechanism used by the train to switch tracks. This will make the trains run faster at approximately 50kph from its current speed at 40kph.
The series of maintenance work is part of the wider rehabilitation project slated for the whole MRT-3 line. Sumitomo-MHI-TESP, as early as May last year, started handling all rehabilitation and maintenance works for MRT-3 in hopes of restoring the railway system back to its original design condition.
Header photo courtesy of DOTr-MRT3 Facebook page
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