MRT weekend shutdown gets go signal

MANILA - A proposal to temporarily shut down the Metro Rail Transit-3 has gotten the go signal from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

MRT General Manager Roman Buenafe said his proposal to schedule a window time for rail replacement got the approval from Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya.

In his proposal, MRT operations will be closed early Saturday 9 pm and will open 12 noon on Sunday to make way for the rail replacement.

Buenafe estimated that the window time will be enough to replace 150 meters of rail.

Buenafe said that the uneven surface of the rails is the biggest problem since it causes sudden stops and slows the speed of trains.

What is hindering the rail replacement project is the lack of welding kits. Only three welding kits are available enough to repair one rail breakage.

MRT3 ordered 150 kits that should have been delivered today. But since the delivery did not arrive today, Buenafe has to move the scheduled temporary shutdown.

These 'thermit' welding kits are not locally available and has to be shipped from other countries.

Buenafe said there are still five fish clamps or temporary fixes for breakages installed in the rails. He assured it is still safe to ride the MRT since the fish clamps are sturdy enough to carry the weight of a moving train at a lower speed of 15kph.

Once the welding kits are complete, Buenafe will implement the temporary shutdown of MRT operations.

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MRT weekend shutdown gets go signal