MRT-3 Tests Lighter Trains, Gears for Faster Trips

The MRT-3 on Thursday test-ran new light rail trains and faster speeds to improve services for passengers during the extended quarantine, the Department of Transportation said Thursday.

The simulation run tested the new general overhauled light rail vehicles, which consist of 3 carriages in one train set, to ensure it is safe for passengers. Once it passes the test, it will be added to the operational trains already deployed on the line.

Aside from the new trains, the simulation also tested increasing the overall running speed of the MRT-3 to 50 kph from the current 40 kph. If all goes well, the trains can run faster at 50 kph in November, with 60 kph speeds targetted for December.

Earlier in October, the line's trains increased speed to 40 kph from 30 kph after rail construction and rehabilitation finished with the help of Japan's Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Bumping speeds up to 50 kph will cut waiting time from 8.5 to 9 minutes to just 5.5 to 6 minutes for all the 20 trains on the mainline.

The MRT-3 currently operates with 22 train sets, with each train set ferrying 372 passengers, or 124 individuals per train car.