MRT Line 3 (Metro Manila)

Early planning platform area In 1973, the Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency (OTCA; predecessor of the Japan International Cooperation Agency) presented a plan to construct five subway lines in Metro Manila. The study was known as the Urban Transport Study in the Manila Metropolitan Area. One of the five lines, Line 3, was planned as a line along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the region's busiest road corridor. The plan would have resolved the traffic problems of Metro Manila and would have taken 15 years to complete. Another study by JICA was presented in 1976 which included the five lines proposed in 1973. The study recommended heavy rail due to the rising population. The study integrated the previous 1973 OTCA study, the 1976 JICA study, and the 1977 Freeman Fox and Associates study, which was used as the basis for the LRT Line 1. The Build-Lease-Transfer (BLT) agreement was signed on November 7. According to the agreements, the line would use light rail vehicles from the Czech and Slovak Federal Republics and will have a maximum carrying capacity of 450,000 passengers a day, or 150 million a year to be achieved, through 54 such vehicles operating simultaneously. The EDSA LRT III will run at grade, or street level, on the mid-section of EDSA for a distance of from F.B. Harrison, Pasay, to North Avenue, Quezon City. The system will have its own power facility. It will also have thirteen (13) passenger stations and one depot on government property at North Avenue. The Supreme Court had a case barring Eli Levin from implementing the project in March 1994, and the bids were ABB and Mitsubishi Corporation, which also wanted to supply contracts. A consortium of local companies, led by Fil-Estate Management was later joined by Ayala Land, and 5 others, later formed the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) in June 1995 and took over the EDSA LRT Corporation. The project then became known internally as the Light Rail Transit System (LRTS). Construction and opening in 2001. On March 27, 1996, the unveiling marker was attended by President Ramos and others. A separate agreement was signed with ČKD Dopravní Systémy (ČKD Tatra, now part of Siemens AG), the leading builder of trams and light rail vehicles for the Eastern Bloc, on rolling stock. MRTC also retained the services of ICF Kaiser Engineers and Constructors to provide program management and technical oversight of the services for the design, construction management, and commissioning. During construction, the MRTC oversaw the design, construction, equipping, testing, and commissioning, while the DOTC oversaw technical supervision of the project activities covered by the BLT contract between the DOTC and MRTC. The DOTC also sought the services of SYSTRA, a French consultant firm, with regards to the technical competence, experience and track record in the construction and operations. with all remaining stations opening on July 20, 2000, a little over a month past the original deadline, due to DOTC's inclusion of additional work orders such as the Tramo flyover in Pasay leading to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Initial ridership on the first section fell well below expectations. Passengers complained that the tickets were too expensive, with a maximum fare of . At the time, this was more costly than a comparable bus ride along the EDSA, or similar rail trips elsewhere on the LRTA and the PNR. Others complained of an excess of stairs, and a lack of connectivity between the stations and other modes of public transportation. The MRTC had projected a daily ridership of 300,000 passengers, but in the first month of operations, the system saw only 40,000 passengers daily. However, patronage steadily grew to an average of 109,000 per day in 2000, and 312,000 per day by 2003. To alleviate passenger complaints, the MRTC later reduced passenger fares to , as per the request of then-President Joseph Estrada and a subsequent government subsidy. During the line's construction in 2000, Pasay residents raised concerns about the line being constructed at ground level, resulting in the closure of several intersections along EDSA, forcing people to take long detours just to cross EDSA. Residents also complained that they were not properly consulted about the line's construction in their area. The MRTC stated that the segment could not be made as an elevated railway due to the air rights above the LRT-1 already being awarded to the Department of Public Works and Highways for a flyover in 1996. Overcrowding and maintenance problems MRTC projected a capacity breach in the system by 2002. By 2004, the line had the highest ridership of the three lines, with 400,000 passengers daily. By early 2012, the system was carrying around 550,000 to 600,000 commuters during weekdays and was often badly overcrowded during peak times of access during the day and night. It operated beyond its original designed capacity until 2019. In 2011, Sumitomo, through TES Philippines, issued a warning about the severe overcrowding situation of the line, in which a failure to immediately upgrade the systems would result in potential damage. Sumitomo's original maintenance contract was set to expire in June 2010, but was extended four times. On November 17, 2010, MRTC transferred its responsibility of maintaining the system to the DOTC. By the end of Sumitomo's extended contract in October 2012, the DOTC, under the leadership of its secretary Jun Abaya, decided to procure a new maintenance firm. After the DOTC takeover, unloading incidents and train shortages became rampant. On the other hand, the government of Benigno Aquino III had been planning to buy the line from the MRTC; Representative Edgar Erice of Caloocan's 2nd congressional district accused the MRTC of neglecting and not improving the services of the line under its watch. Following a major train derailment on August 13, 2014, experts from the Mass Transit Railway in Hong Kong audited the MRT-3 two weeks after the incident. In November, the MTR reported that the line's performance was "unsatisfactory". The Philippine Senate, in February 2016, released a report stating that Abaya and other DOTC officials "may have violated" the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to questionable contracts with the subsequent maintenance providers. In a Senate report on the results of the MTR audit, DOTC officials were reported to be involved in graft in relation to questionable contracts, especially those for the maintenance of the line. The DOTC tried to bid out a three-year maintenance contract in October 2014 and January 2015, but both biddings failed. Through a negotiated procurement, the Busan joint venture, consisting of Busan Transportation Corporation, Edison Development & Construction, Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMICorp Inc., and Castan Corporation was awarded the three-year contract by the DOTC. The contract started in January 2016 and was slated to end by January 2019. In 2017, DOTC's succeeding agency, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) attributed the operation's disruptions of the rail system to the Busan joint venture, later known as Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI), with DOTr Transport Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez noting 98 service interruptions and 833 passenger unloadings (or average of twice daily) as well as train derailments in April–June 2017. BURI insisted that the disruptions the railway line was experiencing is due to "inherent design and quality concerns" and not to poor maintenance or normal tear or wear. It said that glitches started occurring since 2000, a claim that MRTC dismissed when Sumitomo was maintaining the system. The maintenance contract was terminated on November 6, 2017. Capacity expansion were procured under the capacity expansion project. , which entered service in 2016. However, several issues and controversies prevented the trains from mainline operations; CRRC Dalian agreed in 2018 to amend the train specifications to match the contract terms at no cost. Due to the trains undergoing the said adjustments, they were slowly introduced into regular operations, which led to the start of the gradual deployment on October 27, 2018. Aside from the procurement of the new trains, the capacity expansion project included the upgrading of the ancillary systems such as the power supply, overhead lines, the extension of the pocket track near Taft Avenue station and the modification of the turn back siding north of the North Avenue station. The original plan also included the upgrading of the signaling system. These upgrades would only be realized as part of the line's rehabilitation. Plans were also laid to increase the number of cars in each train set, from the current three cars to four, which also increases the number of passengers being accommodated for each trip, from 1,182 to 1,576. This was first mentioned in 2013, during the bidding process for the new trains. Despite this, four-car operations were first tested in a Dalian train in May 2016. After the rehabilitation of the line which included the upgrading of the power supply, a dynamic test run for the use of four-car trains for regular operations was conducted on March 9, 2022. Regular four-car operations began on March 28, initially deploying two trains for daily operations, subsequently increased to four. Although full conversion was initially planned to be achieved by 2023, all trains soon reverted to the existing 3-car configuration. Four-car operations returned on April 21, 2025, with three four-car trains being deployed during peak hours, later increased to six by October 17. Plans were laid for full four-car operations in the long run, as well as the full deployment of the CRRC Dalian trains, to increase ridership capacity to 800,000 passengers. Rehabilitation expressed its interest to rehabilitate the line. That same year, Metro Pacific submitted another proposal to rehabilitate, operate and maintain the line. These proposals however would be rejected by the government. Following the termination of the maintenance contract with Busan Universal Rail, Inc., the DOTr announced on November 29, 2017, that a government-to-government agreement between the Philippines and Japan would be signed by the end of that year, paving the way for Sumitomo Corporation to return as the maintenance provider. The project, partly funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, It intended to rehabilitate and upgrade the existing systems and trains, for the line to return to its original high-grade design. On November 8, 2018, the Philippine and Japanese governments signed the loan agreement for the line's rehabilitation after both governments exchanged notes the previous day. The rehabilitation and maintenance contract was signed by the DOTr and Sumitomo on December 28. Originally scheduled to start in January 2019, delays in the implementation of the national budget for the 2019 fiscal year caused consequent delays, as around four billion pesos would be sourced from the government. On May 1, 2019, Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering (MHIENG), Under the 43-month contract, rehabilitation works were to be done within 26 months. It covers the overhaul of all MRTC Class 3000 vehicles, repairs on the escalators and elevators, rail replacement, upgrades on the signaling and communication systems, power supply, overhead systems, maintenance and station equipment. After the rehabilitation, a 17-month maintenance contract would be undertaken by the Japanese firms. to mark the completion of the rehabilitation project at Quezon Avenue station. The rehabilitation was originally scheduled to be completed by July 2021. However, delays brought by the COVID-19 pandemic caused revised timelines. The project was completed in December 2021, as announced by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on February 28, 2022. On March 22, President Rodrigo Duterte and Secretary Tugade inaugurated the newly rehabilitated line at a completion ceremony held at Shaw Boulevard station. but was extended for an additional two months. On May 26, 2023, a loan was signed by the governments of the Philippines and Japan and for the second phase of the project, covering the line's continued maintenance and its connection to the North Triangle Common Station with the lines that would interchange at that station. Four days later, DOTr and Sumitomo signed a contract to extend the latter's maintenance until July 31, 2025. Under the extended contract, the existing three-car trains would be expanded to four cars to cater the increase in passenger demand. Additionally, the pocket track near Taft Avenue station was extended to accommodate longer four-car trains, with construction works taking place from November 2024 to April 2025. The program aims to increase the line's ridership capacity to 500,000 passengers a day. On September 12, 2025, the DOTr extended Sumitomo's contract again for an additional two years. JICA subsequently extended another loan worth , which was signed by both governments on February 4, 2026. ==Route==

The lines run along the alignment of EDSA from North Avenue in Quezon City to the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay, forming in a semi-orbital line. The rails are mostly elevated and erected either over or along the roads covered, with cut and underground sections between and stations, the only underground stations on the line. The rail line serves the cities of Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Quezon City. The line crosses Osmeña Highway and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at Magallanes Interchange in Makati. Stations The line has 13 stations along its route, During the Christmas season, operating hours are usually extended on the days leading up to Christmas Day, but are shortened on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve to allow its staff to celebrate the holidays with their families. It has experimented with extended opening hours, the first of which included 24-hour operations beginning on June 1, 2009 (primarily aimed at serving call center agents and other workers in the business process outsourcing sector). Citing low ridership figures and financial losses, this was suspended after two days, and operations were instead extended from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 am. Operations subsequently returned to the former schedule by April 2010, but services were again extended starting March 10, 2014, with trains running on a trial basis from 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in anticipation of major traffic buildup in light of several major road projects beginning in 2014. Responding to a commuter's concern on X (formerly Twitter) about the limited operating hours at night, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) explained in August 2023 the need for timely maintenance works, since any delays would affect other portions of the line for the next trips. The DOTr added that unlike the extensive railway systems of Europe and Japan, where 24-hour operations are possible, the MRT system only consists of one line. The department also claimed that if maintenance is not ensured, the line would "slowly deteriorate". On March 17, 2025, in the aftermath of the line's inspection by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, he asked the line's management to extend its operations. Before the current operating hours were implemented, train services ended an hour earlier. The extended operating hours, which took effect on March 24, is aimed at reducing long lines during the evening peak hours. The DOTr also plans to deploy more trains along the line to serve more passengers. ==Station facilities, amenities, and services==

, one of the stations with an island platform. as seen from the Ayala Center in August 2012 to the nearby EDSA LRT station Station layout and accessibility The stations have a standard layout, with a platform level and a concourse level. Stations either have side platforms, which is the case for most stations, or island platforms, such as Taft Avenue. Due to the very high patronage of the line, before the pandemic, part of the platform corresponding to the first car of the train is cordoned off for the use of senior citizens, pregnant women, children who are below and age seven, and disabled passengers. Since 2021, the first two doors of the first car of the train have been allotted as a priority section for the aforementioned passengers. The line has a total of 46 escalators and 34 elevators across all 13 stations. Prior to the rehabilitation, only few escalators and elevators were operational. The escalators and elevators were rehabilitated as part of the rehabilitation of the line. The project started in June 2019 and was completed on August 20, 2020. In February 2012, the line allowed folding bicycles to be brought into trains provided that the wheels do not exceed more than in diameter. Platform screen doors were also planned for each station, with the plans for the platform doors were laid out as early as 2013, however, these plans were delayed until it was reconsidered in 2017. In 2014, Pilipino Mirror also started distributing free tabloid newspapers. ==Safety and security==

The line's safety was affirmed in a 2004 World Bank paper prepared by Halcrow, describing the overall state of metro rail transit operations in Manila as being "good". However, since the DOTr took over maintenance of the train system in 2012, the safety and reliability of the system has been questioned, with experts calling it "an accident waiting to happen." While several incidents and accidents were reported between 2012 and 2014, they did not deter commuters from using the system. The Philippine government, meanwhile, continues to assert that the system is safe overall despite those incidents and accidents. In 2014, government officials have admitted that capacity and system upgrades were overdue, although the DOTr has never acted on the numerous capacity expansion proposals of the private owners. In the absence of major investment in improving system safety and reliability, DOTr has resorted to experimenting with and implementing other solutions to reduce strain on the system, including crowd management on station platforms and the proposed implementation of peak-hour express train service. However, some of these solutions, such as platform crowd management, are unpopular with passengers. For safety and security reasons, persons who are visibly intoxicated, insane and/or under the influence of controlled substances, persons carrying flammable materials and/or explosives, and persons carrying bulky objects or items over tall and/or wide are prohibited from entering the line. In late 2000 and early 2001, in response to the Rizal Day bombings and the September 11 attacks, security was increased. Following a vandalism incident in May 2021, After a bomb threat incident on September 8, 2023, DOTr formed an inter-agency task force to enhance security across all transportation sectors. Units of the Philippine National Police and security police provided by private companies can be found in all stations. All stations have a head guard. Some stations may also have a deployed K9 bomb-sniffing dog. The line also employs the use of closed-circuit television inside all stations to monitor suspicious activities. Pets have been allowed to ride since July 12, 2021, but these must be placed inside a carrier bag before boarding a train. ==Ridership==

The original designed ridership of the line is 350,000, yet as the years passed, the number doubled from 450,000 daily passengers in 2006–2007 to 490,000 passengers in 2008 and up to 500,000 passengers from 2010 to 2012, with record numbers reaching as high as 620,000 from 2012 to 2013, before declining to 560,000 in 2014. Ridership slightly increased in 2021, at 136,935 average daily passengers, For a three-month period, the line offered free rides to 28.6 million commuters, averaging 318,055 riders daily. Since 2024, the line's ridership continues to rise to its pre-pandemic levels, as the railway line served a daily average of 375,474 passengers that year. Statistics Data from the Department of Transportation (DOTr). ==Fares and ticketing==

The line, like all other lines in Metro Manila, uses a distance-based fare structure, with fares ranging from 13 to 28 pesos (24 to 51 U.S. cents), depending on the destination. Commuters who ride the line are charged ₱13 ($) for the first two stations, ₱16 ($) for 3–4 stations, ₱20 ($) for 5–7 stations, ₱24 ($) for 8–10 stations and ₱28 ($) for 11 stations or the entire line. Children below (the height of a fare gate) may ride for free. Fares are free of charge every March 8 (International Women's Day; free rides exclusive for women), June 12 (Independence Day), and December 30 (Rizal Day) on limited time slots. The line, along with the LRT Line 2 and Philippine National Railways lines also offered free rides to students starting July 1, 2019, but students must register to avail a student pass. However, the free rides for students stopped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as distance learning was implemented as a mode of learning during the pandemic. however, free rides for students were only limited to the LRT Line 2 due to more losses that the government will incur as a consequence of the free rides (Line 2 itself later stopped the free rides after three months due to similar reasons). As mandated by law, senior citizens and persons with disabilities are entitled to a twenty-percent discount. Since June 20, 2025, students get a higher fare discount of fifty percent, followed by senior citizens and PWDs on July 16, and are valid until 2028. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, meanwhile, called on the government to implement the same discount for workers whose salaries are under the minimum wage. Types of tickets Magnetic tickets (1999–2015) Two types of tickets exist: a single-journey (one-way) ticket whose cost is dependent on the destination, and a stored-value (multiple-use) ticket for 100 pesos. The 200-peso & 500-peso stored-value tickets were issued in the past, but have since been phased out. The single-journey ticket is valid only on the date of purchase. Meanwhile, the stored-value ticket is valid for three months from date of first use. The tickets come in several incarnations: these include tickets bearing the portraits of former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which have since been phased out, and one bearing the logos of the DOTC and the MRTC. Ticket shortages are common: in 2005, the MRTC was forced to recycle tickets bearing Estrada's portrait to address critical ticket shortages, even resorting to borrowing stored-value tickets from the LRTA and even cutting unusable tickets in half for use as manual passes. Shortages were also reported in 2012, and the DOTC was working on procuring additional tickets in 2014. Because of the ticket shortages, it had become common practice for regular passengers to purchase several stored-value tickets at a time, though ticket shortages still persist. Although it has partnered with private telecommunications companies in experimenting with RFID technology as an alternative ticketing system in the past, these were phased out in 2009. Beep cards (2015–present) Currently, inter-operable beep cards with similar-to-the-previous single-journey and stored-value ticket types are now issued, along with the deployment of brand-new ticketing machines that replaced the barely-used ticketing machines that has been in place since the line's inauguration. The beep, tap-and-go tickets, loadable up to ₱10,000, became available to use in all stations of the line on October 3, 2015. A shortage of the stored value cards was reported in 2022 due to the global chip shortage caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cashless options (2025–present) "Fast Lane" turnstiles were launched on July 25, 2025. These turnstiles accept cashless payments to ease queuing at ticket booths. At the moment, one turnstile at every station accepts payments from credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets, with the goal of upgrading all turnstiles in the line in the future according to DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon. These converted turnstiles have inadvertently removed Beep Card compatibility, which is now being addressed. Plans are underway to introduce these payment methods to LRT-1 and LRT-2, with the rollout aimed for 2026. Fare adjustment Adjusting passenger fares was ordered by President Joseph Estrada as a means to boost flagging ridership figures, and the issue of fares both historically and in the present day continues to be a contentious political issue involving officials at even the highest levels of government. Current fare levels were set on January 4, 2015, as a consequence of DOTr (formerly DOTC) having to increase fares for LRT Line 1 as per their concession agreement with MPIC-Ayala, with fare hikes delayed for several years despite inflation and rising operating costs. Prior to the current fares levels, fares were set on July 15, 2000, under the orders of then President Estrada; this was intended to have the line become competitive against other modes of transport, but had the effect of causing revenue shortfalls which the government shouldered. While originally set to last only until January 2001, especially as ridership increased significantly after lower fares were implemented. These lower fares—which are only slightly more expensive than jeepney fares—ended up being financed through large government subsidies amounting to around ₱45 per passenger, and which for both the MRT and LRT reached ₱75 billion for the 10-year period between 2004 and 2014. Without subsidies, the cost of a single trip is estimated at ₱60, Passenger fare subsidies are unpopular outside Metro Manila, with subsidy opponents claiming that their taxes are being used to subsidize Metro Manila commuters without any benefit to the countryside, and that the fare subsidies should be used for infrastructure improvements in the rest of the country. In his 2013 State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III claimed that it would be unfair for non-Metro Manila residents to use their taxes to subsidize the LRT and MRT. However, supporters of the subsidies claimed that the rest of the country benefits economically from efficient transportation in Metro Manila. In January 2023, a petition was filed for a ₱4–6 fare hike due to a major net loss incurred; in 2022, the incurred revenue was only against expenditures of roughly , resulting in a loss of . In the petition, the MRT-3 management said that fare revenues were never enough to compensate the MRTC to cover the initial investment in the construction, operations, and maintenance of the line. Although the fare hike was initially set for the first quarter of 2024, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon deferred plans for such and instead focused on service improvements. ==Rolling stock==

train at North Avenue station The line runs light rail vehicles (LRV) in a regular three-car configuration. Four-car trains began operating by March 2022, although most trains remain running in three cars. One ČKD train car was damaged following a derailment of a train in 2014. Another 48 were made by CRRC Dalian in China that were purchased at a cost of . These operate in a three-car configuration with a total capacity of 1,182 passengers, It is designed to carry in excess of 23,000 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD), and is expandable to accommodate 48,000 passengers per hour per direction. along with a proposal from Inekon Trams in 2013. However, undisclosed issues and train incompatibility issues regarding the project, the project was downgraded to 48 LRVs, with the contract having CRRC Dalian supply 48 new LRVs. The deployment of the Dalian trains was delayed due to several factors, including weight limits on existing tracks and inconsistencies in production, which has since been corrected. On October 27, 2018, DOTr started the gradual deployment of the 2nd-generation trains. The trains are designed to run at a maximum speed of , but currently run at an operating speed of , though some areas are limited to like turnouts. The Passenger Assist Railway Display System (PARDS), a passenger information system powered by LCD screens installed near the ceiling of the train that shows news, advertisements, current train location, arrivals and station layouts, are already installed inside the first-generation trains. PARDS is also installed on trains on LRT lines 1 and 2. Depot The line maintains an underground depot in Quezon City near North Avenue station. Above the depot is TriNoma, a shopping mall owned by the Ayala Corporation. The depot occupies of space and serves as the center of operations and maintenance. It is connected to the mainline through a spur line. The depot is capable of storing 81 light rail vehicles, with the option to expand to include 40 more vehicles as demand arises. However, a lot of rail tracks for storage inside the depot owned by MRTC were taken by DOTC (now DOTr) to repair broken rails, as DOTC's previous maintenance provider did not purchase spare rails. These rails have since been replaced during the rehabilitation done along the entire line by Sumitomo. ==Other infrastructure==

Signaling The line uses the CITYFLO 250 fixed block signaling solution supplied by Alstom (formerly Bombardier Transportation), Other components include train detection using track circuits, EBI Screen 900 centralized traffic control, and computer-based interlocking. The firm owns the proprietary rights to supply new components for the system. In October 2015, Bombardier was awarded the contract to upgrade the system's local control system. The seven-month upgrade replaced the MAN 900 local control system with the newer EBI Screen 900 system with modern computers and fiber optic technology. The previous maintenance providers failed to properly maintain the signaling system and used non-original spare parts to save costs. This in turn, caused many problems within the system which became among the top three causes of frequent service interruptions. that was later cancelled in May 2019 due to the rehabilitation program which included the maintenance of the signaling system by Sumitomo. The 2019–2021 upgrade covered the replacement of copper cables with fiber optic cables, installation of 71 new signal lights, new interlocking equipment, new point machines, new track circuits (including tuning units which form part of the circuits), and other wayside equipment. Works continued during the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation by Alstom in January 2021. The upgraded system was commissioned on October 24, 2021. Tracks and new railway sleepers near Taft Avenue station The standard gauge tracks consist of rails designed to the UIC 54 rail profile, Plans to replace the rail tracks were laid in 2015. Replacement works in certain sections of the line were conducted in February and March of that year. In January 2015, the joint venture of Jorgman, Daewoo, and MBTech Group was awarded the contract for the major replacement works. The joint venture supplied 7,296 pieces of rails. By 2014, speed restrictions were imposed due to safety concerns, which downgraded the operating speed from to , and in 2017 was further downgraded to . A comprehensive rail replacement program started on November 4, 2019, in which 4,053 pieces of rails assembled by Nippon Steel Corporation in Fukuoka were used. Rail replacement works were initially suspended during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, but works resumed in April 2020 and the replacement was fast-tracked. Originally scheduled for completion by February 2021, it was completed in September 2020, five months ahead of schedule. The speed was achieved on December 7, 2020, in the aftermath of replacement works. ==Plans and proposals==

Privatization In November 2022, the Department of Transportation said that it is considering to privatize the operations and maintenance of the line to enhance efficiency, reduce operating costs, and keep fares affordable. The rail lines assets will remain owned by the government, similar to the LRT Line 1. Such a plan was announced as early as 2017. Line merge with LRT Line 1 Although Phase 1 of the line (Taft Avenue to North Avenue) has already been built, the original route envisioned by the government was for it to traverse most of EDSA (from Monumento to Taft Avenue), eventually meeting with the LRT Line 1 at in Caloocan (Phase 2) to create a seamless rail loop around Metro Manila. The total length of the planned extension was . A study about the integration of Metro Manila's railway network, published by JICA in 2001, proposes the through-operation of both LRT-1 and the MRT-3, which would have interoperability to create a seamless loop around the region. The trains would start from Monumento before turning back to the mainline of LRT 1 at Pasay Rotonda. The expansion was shelved by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in favor of the LRT Line 1's extension from to a new common station that it will share with at North Avenue, thus closing the loop. The National Economic and Development Authority, as well as President Arroyo have said that the link at North Avenue is a national priority, since it would not only provide seamless service between the LRT Line 1 and MRT Line 3 but would also help decongest Metro Manila. It was estimated that by 2010, when the extension is completed, some 684,000 commuters would use the line every day from the present 400,000, and traffic congestion on EDSA would be cut by as much as 50%. Proposals to fully unite LRT-1 and MRT-3 operations and systems have been pitched but has not been pursued so far. Feasibility tests for this proposition included LRT-1 trains visiting MRT 3 depot facilities and running them on the entire line. Even if the structure gauge connecting the two rail lines has been successfully tested, commuters have to go down at Fernando Poe Jr. station of LRT Line 1 and walk over or take a tricycle or jeepney for the distance to the North Avenue station of MRT Line 3. In 2011, the Department of Transportation and Communications (precursor to the DOTr), under Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus, launched an auction for a temporary five-year operations and maintenance contract for the two lines; the bidding was set for July. Over twenty-four companies expressed interest to bid which included Ayala Corporation, Bombardier Transportation, CAF, Metro Pacific, Sumitomo Corporation, Siemens, DMCI Holdings, San Miguel Corporation, and others. De Jesus later resigned from the DOTC in June for personal reasons, and his successor, Mar Roxas, halted the auction process and was later shelved. The proposal to integrate the LRT Line 1 and MRT Line 3 was revived in June 2024 by Metro Pacific Investments. The company, which holds a majority stake in LRT Line 1 operator Light Rail Manila Corporation, submitted an unsolicited proposal to integrate the operations of the two lines. It is now under review by DOTr and has been endorsed to the former by the PPP Center, after initially rejecting it due to being incomplete in substance. The proposed line merger will run both LRT-1 and MRT-3 trains on the same track, while resolving outstanding issues such as the Dalian trains, supply chain and potential line expansion. Extension proposals Southern and western extension In the 1999 Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study, the line was proposed to extend all the way to Navotas, which is only , and another one to the reclamation area (known as Bay City) in about . The line was also intended to extend all the way to Kawit. In a feasibility study in 2009 and in 2015, launched by Japan International Cooperation Agency, along with the Department of Transportation, the Transport and Traffic Planners (TTPI) Inc. and other Japanese and local railway officials, launched a plan to extend the present MRT line's southern end, by constructing a at-grade and underground segment, from Taft Avenue station to the SM Mall of Asia complex. Plans were also laid out to add another station, by traversing through Macapagal Boulevard and linking the line to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, therefore adding another to the main line. The study also included a planned extension to the northern and western cities of Navotas, Southern Caloocan, and Malabon, which is also included to the planned merging project with the LRT Line 1, and connecting it to the North–South Commuter Railway. Makati Loop In the initial stages of the construction of the transit line, a proposal was formulated for a supplementary rail extension that would traverse from Buendia station to the Gil Puyat station of the LRT-1, situated between Ayala and Buendia stations. The sole existing trace of this discontinued proposal is an underground tunnel extending from Buendia to Ayala stations, taking a rightward trajectory towards Ayala Avenue, before running towards Gil Puyat Avenue. Despite sporadic references, there is presently no intention to reassess or reinstate this abandoned initiative. NAIA extension In 2000, during the completion of the line, MRTC proposed an idea to build the extension of the line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), running from Taft Avenue station, then passing along Roxas Boulevard, and ending at this airport. The project was expected to cost . However, it is unlikely that the private owners, MRTC, will approve this plan. On January 13, 2011, LRTA Administrator Rafael S. Rodriguez took over as officer-in-charge of the line in preparation for the integration of operations of the three lines, but with the entry of a new leadership into the DOTC that year and in 2012, the transfer was deemed not likely to happen; however, in April 2012, a LRT 1 trainset made the first trial journey to the MRT 3 depot. On May 26, 2014, the line's general manager Al Vitangcol was replaced by LRTA Administrator Honorito Chaneco as officer-in-charge. The move came after Vitangcol was accused by the ambassador of the Czech Republic of extortion and for awarding the maintenance contract in October 2012 to PH Trams, a company established by Vitangcol's uncle-in-law. Vitangcol was also involved in an attempt to extort $30 million from Inekon Group in exchange of 48 train vehicles in July 2012. Near the 2025 expiration of the build-lease-transfer agreement of the DOTr and MRTC, the department planned to transfer its management of the line to the LRTA. The plan was pitched in July 2023 by Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez, when the department considered privatizing the operations and maintenance and bundling it with that of the LRT Line 2. North Triangle Common Station On November 21, 2013, the NEDA board, chaired by President Benigno Aquino III, approved the construction of a common station within North Avenue between SM City North EDSA and TriNoma shopping malls. It is estimated to cost . It will feature head-to-head platforms for LRT 1 and MRT 3 trains with a elevated walkalator to MRT 7. SM Investments Corporation posted 200 million pesos for the naming rights of the common station. This is inconsistent with the original plan of having seamless connectivity to Monumento and is also an unusual arrangement of having two train stations beside each other. However, the project was shelved indefinitely due to disputes over cost, engineering issues and naming rights. The Supreme Court halted the construction of the project in August 2014 after SM Prime Holdings contested the new location near Trinoma. An agreement was later reached under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte on September 28, 2016, and the common station finally begun construction on September 29, 2017. The station will open in 2027. == Incidents ==

During the testing period of the system, the MRT–3 has been prone to numerous disruptions and breakdowns due to technical problems in the overall systems and design since its opening in 1999, due to many factors, such as the humid conditions in the country, lack of accessibility to the stations, and incompatible problems in the rolling stock, causing major adjustments to the system. However, problems began to arise in 2012, due to poor maintenance causing train glitches, lack of spare parts, and negligence. The system has faced numerous interruptions and accidents. This in turn has caused lower ridership, frequent unloading of passengers and passenger inconvenience. Among the notable incidents involving the railway line are: • On January 10, 2000, full line operations were suspended after a fire broke out at the former bus depot of the Metro Manila Transit Corporation in the vicinity of the MRT-3 depot. The fire damaged one of its overhead electric lines and disabled one of two access tracks to the depot. • On October 23, 2000, a flood at the EDSA-Taft intersection and an ongoing construction project that obstructed the sidewalk led to overcrowding at Taft Avenue station and left hundreds of passengers stranded. • On March 19, 2003, a vagrant was killed by a northbound train after climbing onto the tracks near the Santolan-Annapolis station. The incident caused train operations to be suspended for half an hour. • On August 29, 2003, a vagrant and a jeepney barker climbed up a MRT post near Cubao station. Both of them fell to their deaths after a brief altercation. • On March 11, 2004, security guards of the MRT-3 staged a strike in protest of delayed salaries and other withheld benefits. To maintain station security during the disruption, the National Capital Region Police Office deployed officers to MRT-3 stations. In response to the strike, the DOTC ordered the termination of the security agency's contract. • On May 20, 2004, heavy rains and strong winds caused a billboard to fall from a building in Cubao, which was carried towards the MRT tracks. Operations were temporarily suspended for an hour until the tracks were cleared of debris. • On August 12, 2004, southbound operations were temporarily suspended after an overhead power cable snapped and triggered a small explosion at GMA-Kamuning station. • On July 6, 2005, a MRT train hit and killed a security guard who was searching for thieves near the tracks at Guadalupe station, causing temporary disruption to train operations. It was determined that the guard was not wearing reflectors and was outside the designated safe zone for maintenance and security personnel. • On September 23, 2005, strong winds caused a billboard to fall on the MRT power lines near Cubao station. The billboard was also dragged by a northbound train leaving Cubao and caused the last car to catch fire. As a result, train operations were limited to between the Taft Avenue and Shaw Boulevard stations. The incident has also caused the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to call on local government units to strictly regulate billboards being put up along major roads. • On October 22, 2006, a man was run over by a northbound MRT train between the Santolan and Ortigas stations. Reports say that the victim was believed to be a rugby boy and may have jumped from a nearby flyover. As a result, train operations were suspended for 10 minutes. • In August 2010, a billboard dismantling operation at the Ortigas station of the Manila MRT-3 resulted in an accident when steel debris fell onto the overhead wires, disrupting train services. The debris also damaged multiple vehicles and caused significant traffic congestion on EDSA below. • On August 18, 2012, a man sexually assaulted a female cashier passing through Santolan-Annapolis station, prompting an investigation from the Quezon City Police District. • On November 3, 2012, a MRTC 3000 class train from the Araneta Center-Cubao station caught fire as it approached GMA–Kamuning station, causing passengers to scramble to the exits, and having two women injured. The train caught fire due to electrical short-circuit technical failure. • On May 8, 2013, a man was killed in an apparent suicide after allegedly jumping in front of an oncoming MRTC 3000 class train at Guadalupe station. • On March 26, 2014, a southbound MRTC 3000 class train at Guadalupe station suddenly stopped due to the train driver not observing the red light status at the Guadalupe station and accelerated southbound without getting prior clearance from the Control Center, causing the automatic train protection system to trigger and activate the emergency brakes, resulting in eight injuries. • On August 13, 2014, a southbound MRTC 3000 class train heading to Taft Avenue station derailed and overshot to the streets. The train first stopped after leaving Magallanes station due to a technical problem. Later on, the train broke down altogether, so another train was used to push the stalled train. During this process, however, the first train became detached from the rails and overshot towards Taft Avenue. As a result, the train crashed through the buffer stop and concrete barriers and derailed onto Taft Avenue. At least 38 people were injured. The accident was blamed on two train drivers and two control personnel for failing to follow the proper coordination procedures and protocol. • On September 2, 2014, a MRTC 3000 class train continued with one of its doors left open after a train door failed to close at the Guadalupe station. The passengers were then evacuated after the train arrived at Boni station. • On October 22, 2017, train services were limited between North Avenue and Shaw Boulevard due to a used diaper being thrown onto the overhead catenary system between the Buendia and Ayala stations. The perpetrator was not identified and normal services were resumed after one hour. • On November 14, 2017, an alighting passenger at the Ayala station suddenly fell down to the tracks. The passenger was caught between the first and second cars of the train, and her arm was cut off. Operations were disrupted but was resumed shortly. The injured passenger was then brought to a nearby hospital and her arm was reconnected by surgeons the following day. Following this incident, the government reconsidered the use of platform screen doors in stations to prevent such incident. • On November 16, 2017, at 11:30 am, at least 140 passengers were evacuated from a train car that detached from a MRTC 3000 class train between the railway lines of Buendia and Ayala Avenue Stations. • On August 7, 2018, an aircon leak caused the inside of a MRTC 3000 class train to flood, prompting passengers inside to open their umbrellas. The train was removed from service to fix the air conditioning unit and the train involved in the incident returned to service the following day. • On September 26, 2018, two maintenance vehicles collided between Buendia and Guadalupe stations while doing a routine track maintenance, injuring 7 people. This resulted in a one-hour delay of the deployment of trains, causing long lines at stations. • On September 6, 2019, an overhead catenary line section snapped at Guadalupe station, causing a power supply glitch in the whole line affecting over 7,000 passengers. Partial operations were implemented from North Avenue station to Shaw Boulevard station. The situation normalized at 5:00 pm. The incident was caused by a defective and old Protection and Control Unit (PTU) that was overdue for replacement, after an investigation was made. Train preparation and daily maintenance were among the factors that failed to prevent this incident. • On November 4, 2019, at 4:08 pm, a MRTC 3000 class train suddenly emitted smoke while on the northbound track of the line. Around 530 passengers were unloaded. Around two hours after the incident, the operation of the line was back to normal. The fire was caused by a short-circuit in the traction motor. • On May 9, 2021, two men were arrested for illegally going down to the railway tracks at Quezon Avenue station to take a selfie. • On May 12, 2021, a MRTC 3000 class train car was vandalized near Taft Avenue station. An investigation found that an unidentified culprit had cut the perimeter fence near the station, which may have caused the vandalism. • On October 9, 2021, a MRTC 3000 class train car caught fire near the Guadalupe station. A provisional service was implemented between North Avenue and Shaw Boulevard station, and the site of the incident was declared fire out at 9:51 pm. As a result of the incident, 8 passengers sustained minor injuries. Normal operations resumed the following day. • On November 21, 2021, a window in a MRTC 3000 class LRV was damaged due to a stoning incident, with one injury reported. The suspect was later identified as a garbage collector and was subsequently arrested and charged. • On June 12, 2022, two persons fell to their deaths from the EDSA-Taft Avenue (Tramo) flyover, onto the MRT-3 tracks leading to Taft Avenue station, causing an hour-long interruption in services. • On March 3, 2025, an MRTC 3000 class train suddenly stopped between Santolan–Annapolis station and Araneta Center–Cubao station, with passengers stated that they smelling smoke and heard minor explosions inside the train. MRT management stated that the leading car of the train heading northbound experienced traction loss at around 12 pm, causing an hour-long interruption. • On March 11, 2025, one of the escalators at Taft Avenue station had suddenly malfunctioned, with the escalator reversed its direction due to its escalator's main drive chain failure, resulting in 10 injuries. This incident had contributed to the relieving of the MRT-3 general manager Oscar Bongon. == Notes ==