Seven LRT2 trains operating; LRTA assures safety of trains after collision

A couple of days after two of its trains collided, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 had only seven of its trains servicing passengers on Monday.

According to Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) spokesperson Atty. Hernando Cabrera, of the 10 trains in LRT2's line, two were involved in the accident and one is being serviced as part of preventive maintenance.

Cabrera said in an interview with Cecille Villarosa on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday that as a result, passengers may have to wait for a few additional minutes in between trains' arrival. 

Usually, the interval between arrival of trains is from three to five minutes. This may be stretched on Monday to 3.5 to six minutes interval depending on passenger volume and time of day, Cabrera said.

Injured

The LRTA spokesperson also said that one out of five injured during Saturday's train accident and confined in hospitals was already discharged on Sunday.

However, another passenger was admitted on Sunday for traumatic anxiety.

Four other people injured remained confined in hospitals, he said.

One of them whose jaw was broken will be brought by ambulance to Ilocos on Monday for operation. Cabrera said the passenger requested that the operation be done in Ilocos.

The other three injured remain in hospitals for dislocated shoulder, muscle spasm, and broken arm. Cabrera said the one with the broken arm is an LRTA teller. On the other hand, the passenger with the dislocated shoulder may be discharged within the day.

Thirty-four people were hurt on Saturday night when a "dead" train being fixed and parked in the emergency pocket track strayed on its own onto the track with an incoming train from Cubao station. The collision occurred near the Anonas Station.

The LRTA said it will shoulder the medical expenses of those injured.

LRT2 operations were suspended following the accident but resumed before noon on Sunday.

Fact-finding committee

Cabrera said the fact-finding committee will start its formal investigation on Monday.

"'Yung fact-finding committee mag-start ngayon 'yan and we expect na hanggang bukas matapos 'yung kanilang imbestigasyon," Cabrera said.

"By Wednesday meron na silang report. 'Yun ang target namin. In fact, bine-base namin 'yon sa mga nakaraan naming experience. Usually binibigyan kami ng 48 hours na gawin 'yung imbestigasyon at gawin ang report," he added.

Isolated incident

The LRTA official reiterated that Saturday's accident was an isolated one.

"Isolated incident 'yung nangyari. 'Yung ating LRT Line 2, 15 years old na 'yan. Ngayon lang nagkaroon ng collision so talagang very isolated incident 'yan," Cabrera said.

"'Yung [LRT] Line 1, almost 35 years old. 'Yung MRT3, I guess kaparehas din ng Line 2. For the first time, nagkaroon tayo ng tren na supposedly immobilized na gumalaw sa kanyang parking space. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon in 35 years ng LRT system, nagkaroon ng ganu'ng insidente which shows na isolated incident ito," he added.

Cabrera assured the riding public that the trains are safe.

"Generally, 'yung ating mga tren, 'yung ating system, safe po silang sakyan," he said.

LRTA apologized on Sunday to its passengers for the collision. —KG, GMA News