LRT-1 operations did not ‘stop’ despite glitch, official clarifies

LRT 1 (Wikipedia photo)

MANILA — Despite one of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 trains experiencing a glitch in its signaling unit on Wednesday morning, operations did not exactly come to a complete stop, an official clarified.

It was reported that one of the LRT-1 trains stalled, being unable to move forward. This led the management to decide to unload passengers at Pedro Gil station in Manila.

LRT spokesman Hernando Cabrera, in a text message to the Philippines News Agency (PNA), explained that the stalled train was able to move forward after unloading its passengers.

The unloading of passengers during a glitch is one of the Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) recommendations after the overshooting of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 last Aug. 13.

“The (stalled) train was able to move forward after unloading. There was a glitch in the signaling unit but it was able to move and go back to the depot,” Cabrera said in Filipino.

“There is one train that had to unload passengers, that’s (basically) it,” he added. “Operations in LRT-1 did not stop.”

At present, full line operations at the LRT-1 continue.

He assured passengers that despite the glitches, both the LRT 1 and 2 and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 continue to be a safe means of transportation.

Both the DOTC and the LRT/MRT management earlier said that the safety of the passengers will always be their primary concern.