COMMUTERS endured long lines before reaching the platforms of major Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) stations after the railway system was able to operate only eight out of 20 trains on Monday morning.
Sidewalks and pedestrian overpasses were also filled with passengers going southbound lined up to get the stations in North Edsa, Quezon Avenue, Kamuning, Cubao and Shaw Boluevard.
Makati City-based art director Aidee de Guzman, 44, said it took her more than 30 minutes before reaching the MRT platform in Shaw Boulevard Station because of the long line.
Another passenger CJ Torralba said “Eight out of 20? It’s terrible! I left the house at 6:40 and I arrived 8:15 at the office. Fresh umalis, stress dumating.”
“Long queues at this hour, in this heat. We’re doomed,” Jaques Jimeno said.
Some passengers were forced to take other means of transportation along EDSA to reach their destination.
Anak Pawis party-list Rep. Fernando Hicap denounced the decision of the MRT management to limit its operation to only eight trains from 20, saying the move is a total disservice to commuters.
“What happened to the other 12 trains?” Hicap asked.
Hicap said train operations in general seemed to have worsened and that the government’s Public-Private Partnership program has only preserved the interest of private corporations for profit while sacrificing the welfare of the commuting public.
“For months commuters have been squeezed dry by unjust MRT fare hike even as the quality of train service has diminished or has even become practically hazardous,” Hicap said.
The MRT management, however, said 12 trains were operational yesterday and that long line of commuters is a normal situation on a Monday morning. It admitted it deployed only eight trains, which is a normal routine MRT operation from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
MRT maintenance provider Global APT said other MRT trains are not operational because of techincal problems such as speedometer malfunction, air-conditioning and poor lighting system.
Last month, thousands of commuters were stranded and endured long lines at several MRT stations for almost an hour when six trains stopped operating due to air-conditioning malfunction. About 10,000 passengers were affected by the said glitches happened in the morning of April 21.
Reports showed that the MRT trains, carrying 600,000 passengers daily more than its capacity of 350,000, are vulnerable to breakdown which causes injuries, delays and long lines due to inadequate preventive maintenance, absence of regular inspection, lack of spare parts replacement and readiness in times of accidents and risks.
Also known as Metro Star Express , the MRT-3 started in 1999 with 13 stations commences at North Avenue and ends at Taft Avenue, serving the cities that Epifanio de los Santos Avenue passes through: Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay.