WORLD BIZ+
―Exploring the Reality of the Workplace Vol. 8―
Supporting Everyday Life in the Philippines through Railways (Part Two): Sumitomo Corporation Takes on the Rehabilitation of Manila's Urban Railway

Serving more than 400,000 passengers every day, Manila's MRT-3 is a vital transport artery connecting the metropolitan area from north to south. The line plays an essential role in supporting the daily commute to work and school for a huge number of people.

In 1997, Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were awarded the contract to build MRT-3. Following the line's opening in 2000, they were responsible for its operations and maintenance for close to 10 years. Through Japanese-style preventive maintenance designed to avoid failures before they occur, they achieved a high level of operational safety and reliability. However, after the maintenance contract changed hands several times, aging infrastructure, equipment failures and service delays became increasingly serious. This situation eventually led to derailment accidents that left many passengers injured.

Against this backdrop, the Philippine government turned once again to Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries – the companies that had been closely involved since MRT-3's construction – to restore the railway. It was an exceptionally challenging project, with stakeholders repeatedly questioning whether it could truly be accomplished. Nevertheless, the team embarked on the ambitious rehabilitation project, determined to restore a railway that people depended on every day.

The revitalization project involved a comprehensive overhaul of the railway, including the complete refurbishment of rolling stock, rail replacement and extensive upgrades to equipment and systems across the network.

Yet because MRT-3 serves such a large number of passengers every day, suspending operations for an extended period was simply not an option. Normal daytime services continued throughout the project, with construction work and inspections carried out during the limited overnight window between the last train in the evening and the first train the following morning.

The project also had to contend with the outbreak of COVID-19. Even as international travel restrictions prevented personnel from traveling to the site, Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and their colleagues in the Philippines continued to work closely together to keep the project moving forward. As they sought to complete the restoration while maintaining daily rail services, the teams on site faced a process of constant trial and error.

Following completion of the revitalization work, MRT-3 achieved more stable operations, with shorter waiting times between services and an increased number of trains in operation. Once regarded as "a railway line that might stop at any moment" because of frequent breakdowns and delays, passengers have now regained confidence in the line, which is today recognized as a reliable railway system comparable to those in Japan.

Drawing on expertise they have developed through every stage of the railway's lifecycle – from construction and operations to maintenance and restoration – Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries remain committed to supporting the continued development of the Philippine railway sector. Building on experience gained through the MRT-3 project, they aim to apply these lessons to future railway projects while delivering even higher standards in operation and maintenance.