Latest 'glitch' strands LRT passengers anew

Yet another "glitch" stranded several passengers of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Monday, affecting passengers in northern Metro Manila. LRT Administration spokesman Hernando Cabrera said trains had to go slow due to the ongoing repairs to the LRT's 30-year-old rails, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported. With the slow speed of the trains, several commuters crowded the LRT terminal at Monumento in Caloocan City. Cabrera asked for understanding from LRT commuters even as he said workers are forced to replace defective rails on a piecemeal basis. The replacement of the rails has forced the LRT to have its coaches slow down for safety reasons, he added. The LRT-1 first became operational in 1984. According to the dzBB report, Cabrera estimated it would take two hours to replace one to two rail segments. He also said it would not be possible to replace the defective rail segments overnight as it would disrupt the LRT's operations. — RSJ, GMA News