A total of 400,182 passengers were served by the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Wednesday, the highest single-day ridership of the rail line since it resumed operations on June 1, 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The figure is higher than the previous single-day ridership of 396,345 recorded on Jan. 20, 2023.

“Ang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga pasaherong nabibigyang serbisyo ng MRT-3 ay patunay ng mas pinabuting serbisyo ng linya at maayos na pangangalaga at rehabilitasyon ng mga bagon at subsystems nito (The increase in the number of passengers served by the MRT-3 is a testament to its improved service, proper maintenance, and rehabilitation of train cars and subsystems),” a post from the official MRT-3 Facebook page read on Thursday.

The rehabilitation of the MRT-3 was completed on Dec. 2021 — increasing its highest train operating speed from 30 kilometers per hour (kph) to 60 kph and reducing the headway or time between trains from 8 – 9.5 minutes to 4 – 4.5 minutes during peak times.

“Umigsi din ang travel time ng tren mula North Avenue Station hanggang Taft Avenue Station sa 30-35 minuto mula 1 oras at 15 minuto (Train travel time also shorted from North Avenue Station up to Taft Avenue Station from the previous 1 hour and 15 minutes to 30 – 35 minutes),” it said.

MRT-3 Director for Operations Engr. Oscar Bongon said proper maintenance of the MRT-3 continues through the recent completion of the overhaul of all train cars.

“Makaaasa po ang publiko na higit pa pong pagbubutihin ng MRT-3 upang mas marami pang pasahero ang makinabang sa maayos at abot-kayang serbisyo ng ating linya (The public can rest assured that the MRT-3 will work harder to allow more passengers to experience the improved and affordable service of the rail line),” Bongon said.

He reminded passengers that health and safety protocols remain enforced at the MRT-3 such as wearing face masks, not talking, eating, drinking, or smoking, ensuring adequate ventilation, regular disinfection, barring passengers with Covid-19 symptoms and observance of physical distancing. (PNA)