The Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) is extending the operating hours of its Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT-1) by 30 minutes during weekdays, in compliance with a directive issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Effective today, Wednesday, March 26, the last train leaves Dr. Santos station in Paranaque City at 10:30 pm, a half-hour extension from the previous 10 pm schedule; and from Fernando Poe Jr. station in Quezon City at 10:45 pm, also a 30-minute extension from the previous 10:15 pm schedule.
There will be no change in the schedule of the first train leaving both Dr. Santos and Fernando Poe Jr. stations at0 4:30 am on weekdays, and 5 am on weekends and holidays, the LRMC said.
“LRMC supports the call of the Department of Transportation to provide extended service for the benefit of the riding public. In coming up with the new operating schedule, we also considered how the extension period will not significantly impact the available maintenance window to ensure continuous availability, reliability and safety of our service,” Enrico Benipayo, LRMC president and chief executive officer, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We shall continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly, and rest assured that we will continue to implement initiatives that will allow us to better serve our passengers,” Benipayo added.
To enhance its services, LRMC said, it is strategically deploying an expanded fleet and additional trains as needed, to ensure passenger convenience and a more efficient commuting experience.
LRMC advises passengers to plan their trips ahead of time. LRT-1 ticket booths close five minutes before the last train departs from the stations.
Meanwhile, DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon announced the adjustment of the Metro Rail Transit line 3’s operating hours on weekdays, starting on March 24.
For southbound passengers, the closing time at North Avenue is 10:25 pm, with the last train departing at 10:30 pm. For northbound passengers at Taft Avenue, the closing time is 11:04 pm and the last train departs at 11:09 pm, Dizon said.
