MRT-3 moves suspension of weekend ops to Oct., Nov.

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MANILA – The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) has rescheduled its planned suspension of operations during weekends for rail replacement works from August and September to October and November of this year.

In a statement on Thursday, it said the suspension of operations was postponed by MRT-3 maintenance provider, Sumitomo-MHI-TESP (Sumitomo), as part of health and safety precautions against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“From August 8-9, August 21-23, and September 12-13, the suspended weekend operations will be moved to October 10-11, October 31, November 1-2 and November 14-15,” the MRT-3 said.

The rescheduling will not affect the target completion of rail replacement works by the end of September and the increase of the MRT-3’s train operating speed to 40 kilometers per hour (kph) on October, 50 kph by November, and 60 kph by December, according to Sumitomo.

The rail replacement works, it said, would include turnout works for both the southbound and northbound tracks at North Avenue and Taft Avenue stations.

“Turnouts are used to enable trains to switch from one track to another,” the MRT-3 said.

Moreover, it said the weekend suspension of operations would allow performance of other necessary works on the comprehensive rehabilitation of the MRT-3.

This includes rail destressing, rerailing, turnouts replacement, resurfacing, rail profile grinding, ballasting and tamping, and other major works for MRT-3’s trains, electrical systems, and other subsystems.