DoTr extends Metro Manila train operations for holidays

Metro Manila’s three train systems will be on extended operations from Dec. 16 to Dec. 23 in anticipation of more commuters during the holiday rush.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), however, rejected proposals to extend train operations until midnight as it would mean less time for their maintenance, which will ensure their reliability and safety.

For Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3), its last trip from its North Avenue station in Quezon City will be at 10:34 p.m., while the last trip from its Taft Avenue station in Pasay City will be at 11 p.m.

For Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1), its last trip from Dr. Santos Avenue station (Parañaque City) will be at 10:30 p.m., while the last trip from Fernando Poe Jr. station (Quezon City) will be at 10:45 p.m.

For Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT 2), its last train will leave Antipolo station at 9:30 p.m., while the last ride at Recto Station (Manila) will leave at 10 p.m.

According to Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Jeremy Regino, the DOTr extended the operating hours of the rail systems during the holidays to accommodate the surge of workers and Christmas shoppers.

However, the daily maintenance of the three railway systems was a primary consideration in the DOTr’s decision to no longer extend the trains’ operations during the holiday season.

“Unfortunately, our trains need daily maintenance in order to ensure their reliability and safety,” Regino said in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo.

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For instance, to ensure unimpeded nightly maintenance work, the system requires power shutdown even as to guarantee the safety of workers due to the high-voltage powering the train cars, he explained.

According to Regino, further extending the operations of the train lines would jeopardize the reliability of trains and ultimately the safety of the riding public.

“We can sacrifice one week of maintenance time for our trains. But we cannot compromise it further, as we cannot sacrifice the safety of the riding public,” he said.

The three rail systems in Metro Manila by average ferry more than 800,000 commuters daily—MRT 3, the busiest at 357,000, LRT 1 at 323,000 and LRT 2 at 155,000. Ridership across all train lines, however, surge during the holiday rush due to increased mobility for shopping, events and travel.