QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- The Metro Rail Transit-Line 3 (MRT-3) witnessed an increase in its ridership, marking a milestone with over 129 million rides in 2023. This rise, exceeding 30 percent from the preceding year's count of 98.3 million rides, highlights the resounding success of the rail line's revitalized operations.
Transport Assistant Secretary for Railways and MRT-3 officer-in-charge, Jorjette B. Aquino, attributes this remarkable upsurge to a combination of factors. Enhanced reliability, propelled by an effective maintenance program, played a pivotal role in enticing passengers back to the system. Additionally, the restoration of on-site work for many commuters contributed to the swell in ridership.
"The MRT-3 served as a reliable partner to more commuters who returned to on-site work in 2023, and needed a fast and dependable mode of transport. The continued effective maintenance and upkeep of MRT-3’s rehabilitated subsystems contributed to the improved reliability and efficiency of the rail line. Our trains now receive necessary preventive maintenance and upkeep on time, while other subsystems such as tracks, signaling, and power are also properly maintained,” Asec. Aquino said.
The upgrade of MRT-3's functionality stemmed from its comprehensive rehabilitation completed in December 2021, elevating its operational speed back to the original 60kph. The refurbishment, executed by Sumitomo-MHI-TESP, the original builder and maintenance provider, formed the bedrock for this notable performance.
Continuing this success trajectory, the Department of Transportation extended MRT-3’s maintenance and rehabilitation contracts with Sumitomo until 2025, ensuring the sustained peak performance of the system.
The statistics reflect an astounding growth in daily ridership, escalating by over 30 percent to 357,198 from the preceding year's 273,141.
Notably, on August 22, the railway recorded the highest single-day ridership with an impressive tally of 450,298 passengers. Moreover, August emerged as the month with the highest ridership overall, amassing a total of 11,618,005 trips. Other months closely followed suit, with October, September, December, March, November, July, May, January, June, February, and April witnessing consistently high ridership numbers.
To further support commuters, MRT-3 also facilitated free ride programs that benefited a commendable 220,706 passengers throughout the year 2023, underscoring its commitment to service and accessibility.
The staggering surge in ridership is a testament to MRT-3's revitalization efforts and signifies a robust resurgence in public confidence in the system's efficiency and reliability. (MRT-3 / PIA-NCR)
