WHILE the country’s three overhead railway systems already shifted from the magnetic ticketing scheme to the unified, tap-and-go setup, the builder and owner of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 is not convinced the migration will make any difference to the train’s messy situation.
Saturday marked the completion of the rollout of the automated fare-collection system at all of the country’s
elevated train lines, with the last one being the 16-year-old MRT, the most congested railway system in Metro Manila.
With the new system in place, the old magnetic cards—both single journey and stored value—will no longer be on sale.
According to Peter Maher, the chief executive of AF Payments Inc., the new system should not only improve the riders’ buying and paying experience, but should also facilitate seamless transfer between lines with the card’s interoperability feature.
“Train passengers will no longer need to fall in line twice to buy a new ticket when they transfer lines,” he said.
But according to MRT Holdings Inc. Chairman Robert John L. Sobrepeña, the new system is “pointless” sans the new trains and better rails. He was speaking for the Edsa line specifically.
“It’s pointless that you have a fast ticketing system and, yet, you have a broken down train system. It’s a fast ticket getting nowhere,” he said in an interview with the BusinessMirror. The government, he said, should have carefully pursued its priorities.
“They should have improved the capacity by adding more trains and repairing the rails first before procuring a ticketing system,” Sobrepeña said.
Government officials were sought for comment, but none was available as of press time.
The government, however, has started the procurement of new train coaches, with the prototype cars arriving last month. Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. won the project in 2013 but was supposed to deliver 48 new cars starting end-2015.
But the start of the staggered delivery will likely be delayed, with the first delivery expected in the first quarter next year.
Once the 48 new coaches come in, MRT 3’s trips per hour will increase from 20 to 24 and translate to a 60-percent rise in passenger traffic per hour, per direction.
This means there will be 37,824 passengers who can avail themselves of the rail service heading one way every hour. Currently, only about 23,640 people ride an MRT service one way every hour. But that number still depends on how many trains are running that day.
Today the rail line’s average daily ridership is already over 560,000, and its highest single-day passenger count is 620,000. It has a rated capacity of 350,000 passengers per day.
Every day passengers complain of long queues caused by the lack of light rail cars, humid coaches and inoperable elevators and escalators. These are all caused by the lack of proper maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrades.
‘Obsolete signaling system’
Aside from these problems, the train line also has an obsolete signalling system, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya acknowledged. He blamed the private owner of the railway system for its negligence to upgrade the system.
The signaling system for a train line is crucial in preventing the trains from colliding. It maintains a safe distance between trains and controls their speed: issues with its components may result in fewer operating trains and slower travel. Hence, train coaches cannot move forward without it.
He noted, however, that problems arising from the lack of an efficient signaling system “are set to be eliminated soon,” as his office has awarded the signaling system-upgrade project to Bombardier Transportation Signal Ltd.
“This upgrade of an obsolete signaling system, which should have been done by the private sector owner years ago, is crucial in minimizing operational disruptions. This will improve reliability and efficiency of the rail system for the benefit of our passengers,” the Cabinet official said.
Under the P53.37-million contract, Bombardier will replace the existing local control system called MAN 900 with the more contemporary EBI Screen 900—a software with the same functionality as MAN 900, but will allow the use of modern personal computers and fiber optic technology—over the next seven months.
Apart from modernizing the software components, this upgrade will also ensure the availability of spare parts needed for the uninterrupted and efficient operation of Metro Manila’s busiest rail line.
Within the first month of the contract, Bombardier will provide the required hardware upgrades and software licenses; install, test and commission support of the new system; carry out the migration of existing data and functions; and train MRT 3 personnel on proper operation and maintenance.
Bombardier holds exclusive proprietary rights to supply new components, as it designed, developed and implemented the entire MRT 3 signaling system when it was constructed.
To improve the train line, the government is rolling out P9.7 billion worth of projects to fix the ailing railway system.
The government is also spending P4.25 billion for the three-year maintenance and the general overhaul of existing train coaches and the replacement of the system’s signalling system.
The agency targets to award the contract within the fourth quarter this year to enable the latter to take over from the seven multidiscipline contractors currently maintaining the rail line by January 2016.
This long-term maintenance provider will not only undertake the regular maintenance requirements of the system over the next three years, it will also conduct the general overhaul of existing MRT 3 coaches, as well as the replacement of the signalling system.
The general overhaul is needed in order to improve the condition of the 16-year-old coaches and the signalling system replacement will ensure safer operations throughout the line.
The state also wants to buyout the corporate owner of the line.
But several private groups have proposed a different scheme to modernize the train system, which has been under fire for years due to mediocre service. The group Sobrepeña is proposing to do a “quick fix” solution to make the train system safe for the riding public.
Together with Sumitomo Corp. of Japan and Globalvia Infrastructuras of Spain, Metro Global Holdings Inc. is proposing to “fix” the ailing system through a $150-million investment involving the procurement of a total 96 new cars and the rehabilitation of the existing 73 coaches, increasing its capacity fourfold to 1.2 million passengers daily.
Under the proposal, a single point of responsibility will be implemented: meaning the rehabilitation and maintenance of the line will be handled by a single company.
Separately, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is proposing to shoulder the upgrade costs of the train system and release the government from the bondage of paying billions of pesos in equity rental payments.
The group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, which earlier entered into a partnership agreement with the corporate owner of the MRT, intends to spend $524 million to overhaul the line.
The venture would effectively expand the capacity of the railway system by adding more coaches to each train, allowing it to carry more cars at faster intervals. The multimillion-dollar expansion plan would double the capacity of the line to 700,000 passengers a day from the current 350,000 passengers daily.
It was submitted in 2011, but the transportation agency’s chief back then rejected the proposal.
On the other hand German firms Schunk Bahn -und Industrietechnik GmbH and HEAG Mobilo GmbH are seeking to place whole train system under a massive transformation program to augment its capacity and to provide a safe and comfortable travel to commuters from the northern and southern corridors of Metro Manila.
The P4.64-billion proposal, submitted in February with Filipino partner Comm Builders and Technology Phils. Corp., calls for the complete overhaul of the 73 light rail vehicles of the MRT; the replacement of the rails; the upgrading of the line’s ancillary system; the upgrade of the track circuit and signaling systems; the modernization of the conveyance system; and a three-year maintenance contract.
These proposals, however, are still gathering dust in Abaya’s office.
32 comments
Sobrepena is right, this f@cking beepcard is useless, who invented this is also useless..
Sobrepena is just a sour graper the beep card has nothing to do with the trains availablity. But I have used it for both MRT and LRT1. I reloaded it up using the vending machine, as well as over the counter and I find it useful to get from Boni to Taft to Manila City Hall. It saved me time falling in lines many times. This is a step forward, now the next step is privatize MRT like LRT1 and get rid of do nothings like Abaya as well as Sobrepena.
The DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya had so much options before to deal with MRT3 problems, but never considered it. Look right now, it’s like ‘Kalye Serye’ wherein they won’t meet but sa tamang panahon. The traing riding public are the ones who suffer most for his not-so-good projections.
Tumpak. Tama talaga ang hinala mo. Magkakaroon lang na remedy sa matagal na suliranin sa MRT sa “tamang panahon”. Di ba in everything there is a season? Kaya antayin lang natin sa habang panahon na matugunan ang lahat na mga problema sa train, kung darating yun.
It’s a fact that Secretary Abaya had done the transactions wherein most of it were trying to hide the “something fishy” for his compatriots in LP. What other things he’s considering when things were up to him to decide?
It is no longer “something fishy” for almost all ordinary people especially the riding public are already aware of what is going on in MRT3 administration. It is now “something noisy”. The sound is too loud that it likely breaks the people’s eardrum. Do the commuters have to beg for the speedy solution to this training ailing system?
It’s been offered for Secretary Jun Abaya before the easy way to solve the MRT3 problems but he refused to give way fir those good things. The MRT3 operation faltered for the nth time and he’s so sure for his achievements because of the delivery of some coasters as first instalment. The remaining coasters will follow but without engine….?
Why the offer has been denied by Abaya? He’s only the one who could answer it. Although he is the administrator of DOTC, Abaya is not making a decision by himself alone. “Someone” is controlling him. This is only my hunch and for sure, it will. What do you think? Am I not right?
A constant breakdown of signalling system, railways and other facet of train system were objectively eluded by the DOTC Secretary because of his own personal projection. But what happened before and now? It doesn’t matter what he can do for now but he’ll accept the shortcomings.
Correct! You’re right friend. Nobody could take the blame of MRT3 mess than the DOTC Secretary himself. He got all the info, the technicalities of the problem and he had already received on hand possible solutions for that. He is the key person. In short, he has the control either to let it go or no the appropriate solution to the issues.
The Filipinos were expecting the good services coming from MRT3 team but it gave nothing in return. It only continued the damages done for it prolonged the agony of the riding public. The DOTC has nothing to give in return but useless pronouncement of their actions that never will be.
Well, in everything there is an opposition. Finding fault could not solve the problem. It is rather prolonging the agony rather than mitigating the effect of it. I would add similarly that finger pointing would not also resolve the matter in distress. DOCT for sure is doing their assignment.
The new ticketing system is not an answer to this gigantic MRT3 problems. It’s just one of the many ways to uplift the train operation. Look nowadays, it’s still happening even though the system was implemented.
I beg to disagree with you for innovating the ticket system of MRT could contribute or lessen the burden of MRT as far as the riding public is concerned. I would suggest that we should welcome this approach and I know hassle could not be avoided. Let’s give a partial solution to the problem a chance.
More transactions, more proposals were being offered to Secretary Abaya, but what happened seems he never listened to these. He has its own way to see things differently and did not even bothered to lessen the problems.
You see my guess leads me to my expectation. I do agree with you that Secretary Abaya has the final say as to the solution of this haunting mess at MRT3. And the government knows this for sure. I don’t know if transportation is not the priority of the Aquino administration. Secretary Abaya should take the blame for this.
The ailing train system could not do any good to the riding public anymore. It’s just making unto the possibility that damaging it any further. The solutions made by the government for MRT3 were not aligned for the proper implementation of the problems itself.
Everyone is not exempted for any problem. This is I should say. However the problem on railway system of the country had long been confronted already and several attempts had already been done. But it does still exist. This is because of poor maintenance and also the human factor which in reality controls it. I may ask then, what is the root cause of this?
The MRT3 train system and its operations are making the riding public aware of its negatives. Moreover, the government’s not focusing to solve the issues at hand. What did Secretary Abaya had done so far? Nothing….and it’ll be the greatest mistake of the Aquino Administration.
The big question is: is the Aquino administration responsible for this? I may also answer my question. By command and responsibility, I say yes. But going down to the meat of the matter, the person who is incharge for MRT3 administration should take the accountability and responsibility to solve this dilemma. He will just report to the President for the result either good or bad. But he should do the dirty work.
I think, what matters most right now is to act positively to MRT3 issues that were neglected before. The rehabilitation must be continued by all means to enable the riding public to trust this train system once again, if ever. Needless to say the damaged done by the DOTC personnel and managers.
I know they are all experts and they know what they are doing. As an ordinary, riding public, I won’t control myself of doubting them for they took too long to solve and remedy this problems or issues on MRT3. I could say that this would be considered as an utter neglect on their if not solved for they are making the delay.
All these ‘throwbacks” could not give the possibility of helping the MRT3 issues. It only widen the gap for improvement. The Aquino Administration must take positive action at once. Likewise, the DOTC too, must exert all their efforts to solve whatever problem that evolved overtime.
For management wise, those key persons should confer and should come up with a feasible solution in resolve thing MRT3 issues. And I know they’ve already doing this. However, they’re withholding it and trying to implement in their due time so to speak. Too bad!
Bob Sobrepena and Manny Pangilinan had offered much help for the ailing MRT3 system before. How they contacted the DOTC secretary for proper proposals might not good but it will regain the momentum of the train operations in the future. Hoping for the best in return.
The riding public is kept on praying that this MRT3 mess be settled, be resolved so as that its operation would be efficient, safe and reliable. Transportation like this train is an effective option for the commuters who work day in to day out. Thus, it should be improved.
The government was spending extreme amount to solve the MRT3 problems. But where it’s now and who’s the recipients? Anybody will doubt of course why the amount’s so huge but without any improvement at all? Nothing compares to ordinary minds.
The layman, of course, is asking the same question for that. The money involved which the government is using to solve MRT3 problems is questionable. The ordinary people will simply ask: why is that so? They need an explanation for it is their money being used.
Why the government couldn’t decipher the most vital problems of the MRT3 in EDSA? This new ticketing system was still causing chaos among riders. This means that even the DOTC people cannot give much to the ailing train system. They’re making it more vulnerable to breakdowns in the future.
I know there are a lot of thinkers making things done in order as far as ticketing is concerned. However, many still convenience that this innovation for ticketing won’t work. I don’t know why. Anyway is ticketing will solve the traffic mess of MRT? I mean the public riders could be well accommodated if this new ticketing be materialized?
The whole decision of the DOTC Secretary is not positively working in MRT3. It’s like buying some more time to enable the LP people to use the funds? Remember that the emergency fund for MRT3 problem was given to them for this purpose. And, the new delivered coaches are the reason, as they say.
Are you hinting that they are juggling the funds intended for the said project? If it so, that is too bad. The fund is for emergency purposes but it is used otherwise. Now when something is in need in emergency, where are they going to get the funding of it?