MRT-3 apologizes to passengers over long queues, congestion

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Thursday apologized to the public over the long queues and crowd build-up at its Ortigas Avenue station on Wednesday, June 1.

According to the train management, a defective escalator caused the long lines at the northbound stairway of the station after its closure resulting in a single entry and exit point for passengers and passersby.

The narrow walkway at the street-level area likewise contributed to the congestion as only one person can walk through at a time. However, no long queues were observed inside the MRT-3 platform and concourse area.

“We extend our deepest apologies to all our passengers who were inconvenienced by the incident. We assure the public that we will take all the necessary steps, such as the deployment of standby technicians, and close coordination with the Road Sector in crowd management, to prevent this incident from happening again,” it said.

The MRT-3 said it immediately alerted its maintenance provider of the incident while its security personnel implemented a “stop-and-go” scheme to control the crowd. The passenger floor was normalized at around 9:30 AM.

Videos and photos of passengers crowding the station amid heavy rains also  circulated on social media this week.—LDF, GMA News