MRT delay besets commuters on Monday rush hour | ABS-CBN

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MRT delay besets commuters on Monday rush hour

MRT delay besets commuters on Monday rush hour

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Aug 29, 2019 01:30 PM PHT

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MANILA - The MRT-3 failed to start operations as scheduled on Monday due to a power supply failure in its northern stations, causing long queues before daybreak.

Six trains were deployed at 6:45 a.m., train management said. The first trip was scheduled at 5:30 a.m. The MRT, the capital's busiest railway with an average of 500,000 riders daily, had operated below target capacity in recent weeks.

Officials had said that spare parts would arrive in February to bring more trains on the MRT tracks. The power supply issue before dawn Monday happened between the North Avenue and Kamuning stations, the MRT said.

"Dapat baguhin nila iyung patakaran, ayusin nila iyung mga train, puro luma na kasi, istorbo sa trabaho," Joy Asuncion, a disgruntled commuter, told ABS-CBN News.

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(They should change their policy, fix the trains, which are already old, an inconvenience in commuting to work.)

Authorities on Monday deployed buses to give train commuters an alternative.

The Department of Transportation is in talks with Japan's Sumitomo to return as maintenance provider of the MRT.

The previous administration, under former Pres. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, terminated Sumitomo's contract. It also bought P3.8 billion in new coaches from China that were allegedly incompatible with the tracks.

With reports from Dennis Datu and Arra Perez, ABS-CBN News"

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