MRT3 train stalls 3 days before fare hike implementation

MANILA, Philippines – On the first day of 2015,  a Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 southbound train stalled  as it approached the Ortigas station on Thursday, January 1.

Radio reports said the train was diverted back to the Santolan station reportedly due to a broken railing on the tracks.

MRT operations from the Shaw Boulevard station to the North Avenue station were also suspended following the incident.  Operations resumed about an hour later.

The stalling of the train comes 3 days before the scheduled implementation of the fare hike on Sunday, January 4. 

With the new fare scheme approved by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) back in 2011, the new maximum train fares will be as follows:

• LRT1 (Monumento to Baclaran): P30 ($0.67) for single journey tickets and P29 for stored value tickets, from the current P20 ($0.45)
• LRT2 (Recto to Santolan): P25 ($0.56) for single journey tickets and P24 ($0.54) for stored value tickets, from the current P15 ($0.33)
• MRT3 (North Avenue to Taft Avenue): P28 ($0.63) for single journey and stored value tickets, from the current P15 ($0.33)

On December 20, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) announced that it was implementing fare increases in the LRT and Light Rail Train Systems beginning January 4 so it can improve services.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya had explained that the  continued failure to match fare adjustments with increasing operating costs caused by inflation in the past “have resulted in practically break-even finances for all 3 train lines.”

“In turn, this crippled their ability to invest in large-scale improvements for their facilities, since revenues have only been enough for day-to-day operational requirements,” Abaya had said. – Rappler.com