LRT-2 resumes operations

MANILA — The operations of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) resumed Sunday morning after it was suspended, following a collision involving two trains between the Anonas and Cubao stations last night.

“LRT-2 resumed its operations with train insertion at 10:47 a.m. today,” Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Communications Goddes Hope Libiran told reporters on Sunday.

The railway system had its full service operations at about 12:13 p.m.

Two trains of LRT-2 collided between the Cubao and Anonas stations at about 9:51 p.m. Saturday, resulting in injury to 34 persons.

According to media reports, a train full of passengers that was bound for the Santolan station hit a train parked on the tracks. Some of the debris from the collision fell on the street below.

The DOTr and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) assured that it would shoulder the medical expenses of the persons injured and provide them assistance.

The LRTA created a fact-finding committee that would investigate the cause of the collision, make recommendations to prevent similar incidents, and assess the response and actions taken by the LRT-2 management.

“DOTr Secretary (Arthur) Tugade assures everyone that we will get to the bottom of this. Kung mapapatunayan na may nagpabaya o nagkamali (If it is found that there were lapses or negligence), we will make sure that appropriate charges will be filed,” Libiran said.

According to the LRTA, the incident was an isolated case and was the first to occur since LRT-2 began operations in 2003.