The train line resumed full operations at 5 p.m., almost 12 hours after authorities discovered a power system glitch caused by a broken cable. This cut off the power supply for the entire train line.
Authorities said they are still investigating the cause of the broken cable.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 6) — Metro Railway Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) operations got back in full swing Friday afternoon after they were partially suspended due to a breakdown in its power system, transport officials said.
The Transportation Department suspended MRT-3 operations at 6:42 a.m. on Friday, after a cable from the Overhead Catenary System which supplies the train’s electricity was cut off at Guadalupe Station. This rendered trains unavailable from Taft Avenue to Shaw Boulevard station, forcing thousands of passengers off the trains.
A video from a netizen showed passengers lining up along EDSA, waiting to board buses.
Chaos starts when MRT3 breakdowns pic.twitter.com/hqshGdZwzA
— Joey Ronaldo Dela Cr (@ronaldo_joey) September 5, 2019
Stranded passengers
Around 7,000 passengers were inconvenienced by the MRT-3’s breakdown.
“Nakapag-unload kami ng more or less 7,000 and we do expect marami pang nakapila sa labas,” said Michael Capati, MRT Director for Operations.
[Translation: We were able to unload more or less 7,000 (passengers) and we expect more are lining up outside the stations.]
Trains from North Avenue to Shaw Boulevard resumed operations past at 9:45 a.m.., but commuters and netizens still expressed frustration over the mishap.
At 4:35 PM, MRT-3’s Overhead Catenary System (OCS) Team has successfully reconnected and restored the catenary cable that was cut at 6:17 AM today at Guadalupe Station (NB).
The agency will now proceed to investigate the cause of the cut catenary cable.
Thank you.
— DOTr MRT-3 (@dotrmrt3) September 6, 2019
“After restoring operations, we will investigate how the overhead catenary cable could have been cut,” said DOTr on Twitter.
The DOTr has since deployed Point-to-Point (P2P) buses to transport passengers from North Avenue to Ayala Avenue as repairs are ongoing.
MRT-3 stops operations due to insufficient power supply pic.twitter.com/gQukx4wMC1
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) September 6, 2019
