Heads up: There will be fewer MRT-3 trains this July

The Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) is already operating at 13 percent capacity, and it will be further reduced as the total number of its employees who have contracted COVID-19 rises to 127.

This current count includes 124 depot personnel of MRT-3’s maintenance provider Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and three railway workers, who are now all undergoing quarantine.

“Itong mga personnel na nag-test positive ay mga depot personnel hindi ito yung mga station personnel na nakakasalamuha ng mga pasahero,” assured Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) undersecretary for railways Timothy John Batan, “the extent of operating level reduction will be advised by Sumitomo over the weekend.”

DOTr also reported that MRT-3 reached its highest ridership during the general community quarantine period (GCQ) on June 29 with 67,821 passengers. Meanwhile, MRT-3 has over 1,700 depot personnel.

While the railway line is still able to continue operations, Sumitomo gave a heads-up about reducing MRT-3’s capacity, which includes deploying fewer trains, starting July 6. This is due to the number of the depot’s maintenance personnel that are currently on quarantine.

The first batch of 25 cases last week among MRT-3’s depot personnel have led to the swab testing for all employees, confirming more COVID-19 cases among the workers. Meanwhile, the railway line’s first worker tested positive on June 14.

“Sumitomo requested to discuss on a day-by-day basis the level of operations that they can sustain as results of the mass swab testing continue to be released,” said Batan in an official statement as well.

In lieu of the further reduced MRT-3 capacity, DOTr will be utilizing its bus augmentation program and EDSA busway service for the meantime.

“Per guidance of the IATF-EID, additional measures and precautions will be taken during MRT-3’s reduced operations, including requiring full personal protective equipment (PPE) for stations and depot personnel, limiting movement of depot personnel to their immediate areas of responsibility, increased disinfection activities, and heightened monitoring and screening of symptoms among all personnel,” the department also said.

Header photo from Inquirer.net

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