Transport department investigating detachment of MRT-3 coach

November 17, 2017

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it is investigating the detachment of one of its coaches at the MRT-3 Ayala station on Thursday.

"Upon initial investigation of the unfortunate incident, it was found that the Messma Card of the decoupled Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) #68, the 3rd car in Train No. 5, is missing. The Messma Card functions like a black box that records all applied interventions,” DOTr said in a statement Friday.

Citing MRT-3 Safety Chief Technician Ruel Jose, who led the initial investigation, DOTr said there was no electrical fault, as there was no damage to the mechanical parts of the coupler.

"The coupler cannot be separated without human intervention," Jose said.

"These questions are being addressed right now through proper and scrupulous investigation,” it added.

Some 130 passengers left the train, which stopped at the Buendia stattion and walk on the rails to Ayala station at 2;05 pm on Thursday.

In response to a call by Senator Grace Poe to temporarily stop operations of the MRT-3 so maintenance issues can be addressed, the DOTr said they have been considering this since the first quarter of 2017.

"But, while the DOTr and Secretary Arthur Tugade are aware of the system's current condition, we must also consider the 500,000 commuters that rely on the MRT-3 system daily,” DOTr said..

"The MRT-3 problem is not easy. We acknowledge that it cannot be solved overnight. But, the government is not giving up. The DOTr will not give up. We will do our best until the Filipino people get the service they deserve,” it added.

In a separate statement,  Busan Universal Rails Inc., the former maintenance provider of MRT 3 said it  denied any responsibility or involvement. DMS