MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 operations were stalled Tuesday morning, June 3, due to a problem with a power cable near the Kamuning area in Quezon City.

The line switched to “half line operations” at around 10 am, MRT spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said. Cabrera explained that the shutdown was necessary because technicians had to check the power cable.

By 11:49 am, full operations were restored, Cabrera said. He earlier estimated the MRT 3 to return to full operations by 11:30 am Tuesday. 

“We [had] to shut down the power. To shut it down, we [had] to shut down part of the line,” he said.

The train line only operated from the Shaw Boulevard station in Mandaluyong City to the Taft Station in Pasay City. All other stops north of the Shaw station – from the Ortigas station to the North Avenue station – were not operational.

“Our staff is already on site. Our objective is to bring back the full line operation, at the same time to ensure safety of the system,” Cabrera said.

On Twitter, MRT 3 passengers said passengers were asked to go down stations north of Metro Manila such as the Quezon Avenue station in Quezon City.

It’s not the first time the MRT 3 has experienced glitches. Late March, the line also underwent “provisional operations” after its communication system bogged down. The MRT 3 traverses EDSA, and has stops in the metro’s business districts.

Recently, MRT general manager Al Vitangcol stepped down amid allegations of corruption. Commuter groups accused Vitangcol of incompetence, and called for his resignation months before he eventually conceded. – Rappler.com