MRT starts to replace 6,000 meters of damaged track

The Metro Rail Transport has started to replace 6,000 meters of damaged railway track, a report on "24 Oras" said. 

 

The repair work started Tuesday midnight in between Magallanes and Taft Avenue stations. But this job is not easy, MRT-3 Rehabilitation Projects consultant Atty. Hernando Cabrera said. 

 

In three hours, the workers can only replace three meters of track. 

 

"So, gabi-gabi ang ginagawa natin within that three-hour window, kaya natin mag-preweld. Bago pa lang isalpak, wini-welding na natin 'yung tatlo," he explained. 

 

If not repaired, the trains needed to slow down while passing by the damaged tracks. 

 

Repair road blocks 

 

The authorities were not able to replace the damaged MRT tracks right away since they needed to order the tools for the rail replacement from abroad.MRT's maintenance provider Autre Porte Technique Global Inc. (APT Global) ran out of stock. 

 

Fortunately, MRT General Manager Roman Buenafe found 600 meters of track in one of the warehouses of the MRT depot to start the repair. 

 

This was after APT Global said that there were only 12 meters of tracks available for replacement, which prompted lawmakers to ask why they never found the 600 meters of track before. 

 

"Global APT has to answer a lot here. Pero ang DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) marami rin dapat pananagutan. Ano'ng reason bakit 'di nakita ng dating general manager 'yung rails na nandiyan lang pala sa depot?" Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares pointed out. 
 

GMA News tried to seek Global APT's reaction but it refused to give comment on the issue. 

 

Meanwhile, DOTC Usec. Jose Lotilla explained that the 600 meters of railway tracks were used in the stabling area of the trains. 

 

"Hindi naman 'yun naka-imbak na naka-stock doon sa bodega," he said.  

 

MRT Holdings Inc., which owns shares of the MRT, said that the tracks Buenafe discovered were attached to the depot, which were used for the storage and maintenance test of the trains. 

 

The DOTC also needs to ask the permission of the MRT Corporation, which owns the tracks, before using them. 

 

"Magkaka-problema ';yung maintenance and operation kasi saan natin isto-store ang mga bagon," said MRT Holdings chairman Robert Sobrepeña. 

 

MRT Holdings has also submitted a rehabilitation program for the MRT but the DOTC has yet to response to the submission. —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News