MRT-3 RAIL REPLACEMENTS. Rails which arrived from Japan last July were transferred to the Tracks Laydown Yard in Parañaque City on August 26. These will be processed at the welding area in MRT-3 Taft Avenue Station starting September. (Photo courtesy of DOTr)
MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday said all 4,053 pieces of rails to be used as replacements for degraded rails of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) mainline tracks have been transferred at the Tracks Laydown Yard in Parañaque City on August 26.
In an announcement, the DOTr said processing of these rail replacements will commence next month at the welding area in MRT-3 Taft Avenue Station.
“Inaasahan na sa darating na Setyembre 2019 ay uumpisahan nang ilatag ang mga nasabing riles sa Welding Area ng MRT-3 Taft Avenue Station (It is expected that by September 2019, the said rails will begin to be laid down at the Welding Area in MRT-3 Taft Avenue Station),” the announcement read.
Gradual rail replacement works will begin in November and are set to be completed by February 2021.
Once degraded rails have been replaced, the DOTr said passengers of the MRT-3 can expect smoother rides which will also help in avoiding future operational problems and delays.
“Hiling po namin ang inyong pasensya at pagtitiwala habang ginagawa po namin ang lahat upang maisakatuparan ang aming pangakong maibalik sa dating kalidad ang MRT-3 (We are asking for your patience and trust while we do our best in making our promise to bring back quality MRT-3 service a reality),” the DOTr said.
These 18-meter rails were all transferred from Harbour Port Center in Manila since August 2 and were received from Nippon Steel Corp. in Japan last July, three months ahead of schedule.
On Tuesday, the DOTr also announced they have begun the installation of the first batch of new air-conditioning units (ACU) on MRT-3 train cars.
A total of 120 units of these ACUs are set to be installed and are only a small part of an PHP18-billion comprehensive rehabilitation project for the MRT-3 of the DOTr through contractor Sumitomo-MHI-TESP and funded through an Official Development Assistance loan from Japan. (PNA)
