LOOK: What Happens Inside MRT-3’s Underground Maintenance Operations
It's the first time MRT-3 opened its depot to the media.
(SPOT.ph) On August 8, a tweet went viral for bringing up why MRT operations don’t run past midnight, considering the high volume of call center agents and night shift workers in Metro Manila. The answer? Maintenance activities take up the whole night, according to MRT-3 Director for Operations Oscar B. Bongon.
MRT-3 is the only railway with an underground depot in the Philippines. In fact, the eight-hectare depot is near the North Avenue station and right below TriNoma, with maintenance works taking place from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. every night.
“Ito po yung mga nangyayari,” Bongon said. “From the tracks to the signaling, lahat po ‘yan chinecheck natin para reliable ang ating train operations.”
Also read: Why the MRT-3 Can't Operate 24/7
The priority is safety, Bongon said, which is why MRT-3 can’t afford to extend operations beyond its current hours of 4:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Nightly maintenance includes inspection, cleaning, and troubleshooting if any.
“[Pag] nakikita natin... mas naintindihan natin 'yung pangangailangan ng sistema," Bongson said.
Also read: What’s New With the MRT-3’s Overhauled Trains?
What happens in the MRT-3 depot?
Maintenance activities follow a tight schedule, down to every detail, according to Bongon. From the moment the last train leaves the end station in Taft Avenue, maintenance workers in hard hats, high visibility vests, and safety shoes prepare for the routine checks for its 72 train cars.
The first stop is the light maintenance section, where the trains are mounted on a high platform. What follows is a regular train inspection for the interior, exterior, and underfloor that usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Below is how they check and clean the air-conditioning to keep the MRT-3 cool.
If a technical problem has been raised, the train will be sent for troubleshooting in the technical research section. Some of the most common repairs are concerned with electrical components like the train's lighting and public address (PA) system.
Cleaning the train can be either manual washing or automated car wash. Manual washing occurs every night, which entails wiping the interior and exterior of the train.
Meanwhile, the trains undergo a full body shower through the automated car wash.
"Number 1 po ang safety siyempre dapat komportable, reliable para walang aberya 'yung biyahe ng mga mananakay natin," said Bongon.
