LRT-2 suffers breakdown

MANILA, Philippines — The Light Rail Transit Line 2 broke down early yesterday, forcing LRT-2 commuters to ride other passenger vehicles to their destinations.

Hernando Cabrera, Light Rail Transit Authority administrator, said train personnel reported a damaged catenary wire at the Santolan Station reversing track area at 4:42 a.m.

The incident led the LRT-2 management to enforce a “half-line” operation starting at 5 a.m. Train journeys were limited to the Araneta Center-Cubao and Recto stations only. Services to the Antipolo, Marikina/Pasig, Santolan, Katipunan and Anonas stations were restored after about four hours of repair.

Cabrera said the repairs were completed at 8:13 a.m., but the LRTA restored its full operations from the Antipolo to Manila stations at 8:52 a.m. after the LRT-2 technicians fixed the overhead catenary wire, which supplies electricity for the rail line.

Stranded passengers, mostly students, boarded other commuter vehicles such as jeepneys, buses, taxis and motorcycles.