MRT operations suspended due to 'technical difficulties'

(Updated 4:53 p.m.) Just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, MRT administrators announced that all operations across the entire system were suspended due to "technical difficulties" at the Taft MRT station. “Yung Meralco powerline sa Taft Station ay naputol at bumagsak,” MRT-3 general manager Al Vitangcol told GMA News Online via phone interview. Vitangcol said the power cord has been physically cut at around 2:40 pm. Passengers inside the train coaches between Taft and Magallanes Stations were evacuated.

Commuters between Magallanes & Taft Ave stations were asked to evacuate the train as a precautionary measure.

— DOTC(@DOTCPhilippines) March 19, 2013

“In order to secure the safety, we have shut down our operations,” Vitangcol said. He said repair operations were ongoing as of posting time.

Update as of 4:15pm, MRT operations (both northbound and southbound) are limited from North to Shaw stations. Repairs (by Meralco) ongoing.

— DOTC(@DOTCPhilippines) March 19, 2013

However, there were "provisional" trips from North Avenue station to Shaw station and vice versa, Vitangcol said. Regular train operations will resume after Meralco fixed its line. “We are still awaiting for the assessment of Meralco,” Vitangcol said. — TJ Dimacali and Rouchelle Dinglasan/KG/KBK, GMA News