Earlier MRT-3 first trip, Common Station reconstruction restart within year - Dizon

Metro Manila, Philippines - The government is exploring an earlier first trip for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) and to restart the construction of a delayed train common station within the year - to coincide with improvements on the Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA), a Cabinet official said.

MRT-3 operations may begin half an hour earlier from its current first trip at 4:30 a.m., Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said in an interview on “Zoom In with Menchu Macapagal,” noting that maintenance activities happen after the last trip.

The government has extended operations at the train line from Pasay to Quezon City by an hour on weeknights since March.

Dizon said the pullout of X-ray machines at stations and replacing them with K9 dogs and coast guard personnel also hastened the passenger queue..

“We're still learning and we're still trying to improve. But what we've seen is that yung dating 45 minutes to one hour, ngayon five minutes na lang, minsan matagal yung 10 minutes [Before it’s taking them 45 minutes to one hour, now it’s 5 minutes. 10 minutes is already long]… We're practically saving our people an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon,” he said.

The transportation chief said more trains will be deployed on MRT-3.

Meanwhile, Dizon more buses will be added on the exclusive EDSA lane.

“We're going to add maybe 100, 150 more. But we have to do this in phases. We have to look at the demand because obviously, we also want the bus operators and the bus companies to make money,” he said.

Common Station reconstruction this year

Another project, Dizon said, is the restart of construction of the station that will link three train lines - MRT-3, LRT-1, and the pending MRT-7 - within the year.

He said this will enable the government to meet the early 2027 deadline for the Common Station, simultaneous with the target MRT-7 operations.

In May, the DOTr scrapped its deal with the contractor over what it called excessive delays.

Dizon said he is looking for the “fastest way” to get a new station builder.

He said the government is still resolving issues with the previous contractor.

“If the government owes the contractor something for a delayed payment or non-approval of an order or something like that, then the government will make sure that we pay. But if the contractor also has some obligations, then that's got to be reconciled,” Dizon said.