The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) has served a total of 157,855 passengers on Monday, the highest number recorded in a single day since June 1, 2020 when it resumed operation after more than two months of closure due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a Facebook post, the MRT-3 attributed record number of passengers to the higher allowed 30 percent of the maximum capacity from the previous 13 percent, faster maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour (kph), and more running and operational trains.

“Dahil dito, nabawasan ang average headway o oras sa pagitan ng mga tren mula 8.5-9 na minuto sa 20 tren, pababa ng 3.5-4 minuto (Because of this, the average headway or time between trains improved from 8.5 to 9 minutes for 20 running trains, down to 3.5 to 4 minutes),” the MRT-3 said.

On Sunday, the MRT-3 also deployed an all-time high 23 running trains.

“This was the first time that the MRT-3 has deployed a total running trains of this figure, after it first recorded an all-time high of 22 running trains last 21 September 2020,” the MRT-3 said in a new release on Monday.

The increase in the number of fielded trains, it said, would not only increase the number of passengers served but would also lessen the waiting time for passengers.

To date, it said travel time from North Avenue Station to Taft Station has been cut to 45 to 50 minutes from the previous 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The improvement in the MRT-3’s performance comes after the massive rehabilitation of the rail service, slated for completion this year by its maintenance provider Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. (PNA)