Busan Universal Rail Inc., the maintenance provider of Metro Rail Transit Line 3, said Thursday it is ramping up works at the overhead train system in anticipation of increased passengers this coming Christmas season.
Busan said it was undertaking the replacement of the light rail’s signaling system and the improvement of all train tracks to ensure further efficiency and safety in MRT-3 operations, and to allow the light rail to better serve the commuting public.
“We know how important it is for commuters to have fast, safe, and secure transportation during the holiday season. We will endeavor to put as many trains on the tracks as possible, to meet commuting demands. And we will back this up with enough spares to ensure trouble-free travel in case of unforeseen stoppages,” Busan spokesman Charles Mercado said.
He said the company overshot its target in delivering the maximum serviceable number of cars since its service contract started in January this year.
Busan has put 65 cars in good running condition, which means 20 trains plus 1 train set and two spare cars.
The company on average restored two to three cars every month since its contract started in January, enabling it to deploy up to 20 trains (consisting of three cars) at revenue line during peak periods. Peak runs are backed up by two reserved cars at the depot.
Four cars are also undergoing general overhaul, in line with the company’s commitment to restore all down cars soonest.
Mercado said given the age of the system, which is nearly 20 years, breakdowns and temporary shutdowns were to be expected even with regular and proper maintenance and calibration. However, the company endeavors to minimize disruption and to keep the system running at optimum, he said.
The company said train stoppage was not a maintenance issue but a safety precaution triggered by the system’s automatic train protection.
Busan said rail repair and maintenance were crucial components of operations, as poor maintenance in the past had also resulted in damage to train cars.
“Rail repair will also allow the system to run more trains and at faster speeds, thus boosting ridership and operating efficiency particularly during the holidays,” Mercado said.
Under Busan’s service and maintenance contract, it is to undertake system maintenance, general overhaul of 43 coaches, total replacement of signaling system and all special repair works.
The company purchased start-up spare parts so that it could restore the down cars left behind by previous maintenance providers. All spares were inspected and approved by the Transportation Department.
It carried out rail grinding of the entire mainline (68 kilometers) as part of its contract and replaced 1,462 linear meters out of 7,200 linear meters of rail that needed changing.
Rail preparation and replacement is now ongoing to complete the required repairs on the entire rail line.
MRT-3 now carries an average of over 420,000 passengers daily, with ridership climbing from 9.8 million in January to 12.2 million by October, also the result of Busan’s improved maintenance service.