The line has boosted capacity as a result of this move.
In its announcement on Monday, April 21, the management of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) disclosed that it will be deploying three four-car trains during the peak morning and afternoon hours.
As each train car can carry up to 394 passengers, the line noted, the four-car train configuration can accommodate around 1,576 passengers.
Meanwhile, the remaining 16 trains on its operational rolling stock will retain the current three-car configuration.
“With three four-car trains complementing the 16 three-car trains, passenger capacity will be expanded into an equivalent of 20 trains during peak hours—further enhancing MRT-3’s capacity,” the management said in its statement.
On the same day, Secretary for Transportation Vince Dizon made an inspection of the line, which is fresh from the completion of its four-day Holy Week maintenance.
Dizon revealed that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is studying the implementation of cashless payment using cards and e-wallet for those availing of single-journey tickets.
The deployment of four-car trains during peak hours also comes after other previous initiatives to boost MRT-3’s service, which included the indefinite extension of its weekday operating hours to serve late-night shift workers.