MRT: New year, same problems

(Graphic by 9News)

By Pia Garcia, 9News Online

Two months into 2015 and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) is showing no signs of slowing down - when it comes to glitches, that is.

On Tuesday (February 17), the MRT-3 experienced two glitches, the first one at 9:39 in the morning when southbound train suddenly stopped as it neared the Santolan station, causing passengers to tumble.

At 10:53 a.m., another sudden stop was reported, this time a northbound train at the Magallanes station figured in the incident. 

One passenger was hurt in Magallanes and two were injured in Santolan.

Both glitches happened during peak hours of the morning, causing dismay for both the passengers and those getting in line to take a ride.

It happened before

Libay, who works in Shaw Blvd., regularly takes the MRT-3. She was among those in the female coaches which stopped at the Santolan station on Tuesday.

When 9News Online asked what happened that morning, she said the train just "suddenly stopped."

She said no explanation was given to passengers and they remained inside the train.

PJ, also a regular MRT-3 passenger, was also on board the train that day.

She was in one of the coaches shared by both men and women and said while some passengers almost fell like dominoes because of the sudden stop, they were cushioned by other passengers.

Jack*, who goes to work in an office in Shaw Blvd., was not on any of the trains that figured in Tuesday's glitches, but has been riding the MRT-3 for over two years.

He says he has experienced glitches before, one also involving a train suddenly stopping.

"It happened when there were not a lot of passengers on the train, so some were really sent flying," he said.

Libay, PJ, and Jack said that they've experienced MRT-3 glitches many times. And they are pretty sure that what happened on Tuesday won't be the last.

A history of glitches

In August 13, 2014, an MRT-3 train shot off the rails at the Taft Avenue station.

It broke through a safety barrier and injured around 50 people. It also interfered with traffic along EDSA.

This incident prompted Sen. Grace Poe, Undersecretary Abigail Valte, and Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to take on what many called the "MRT Rush Hour Challenge," and people hoped that it would give them a glimpse of their daily commute.

In the same year, a group of experts from Hong Kong arrived to assess the condition of the MRT.

Their response was less than favorable - they called the MRT's state "unacceptable."

Sen. Poe also gave her assessment and gave the MRT a "conditional" failing grade.

'No choice'

When asked, Libay, Jack, and PJ said that despite the glitches and the challenges presented by their daily commute via the MRT - long lines, aging trains - they still prefer to take the train over other forms of transportation.

When asked why, they give the same answer: It is the most convenient.

All three live in Quezon City and go to Shaw Blvd for work. Given the options available to them - and considering the time they need to get to their offices - the MRT-3 is the quickest way to get there.

"The train is the quickest alternative - it is not the best, nor is it the safest, but it is the fastest," Jack said.

PJ added that, "It gets scary to ride the train sometimes, I have no choice. This is the most convenient way to get to work.’

Hopeful

Libay and PJ are hopeful that the MRT-3’s situation will change after a hike in fare was enforced in early 2015. They both said that this might be the push needed to make the necessary upgrades.

Jack was not as optimistic.

“Make the improvements and then raise fares,” he said.

He added it is the only way to justify the cost.

*Jack asked that his real name not be used in this story.