MRT-3, LRT-1 and 2 Resume Operations at Limited Capacity to Safeguard Passengers, Staff

MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 resume limited operations from April 5 to 9, as its respective staff undergoes health and safety checks and COVID-19 testing to protect them and the passengers against the coronavirus.

IMAGE from Department of Transportation – Philippines Facebook page

In a Facebook post, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that its railway sector will scale down its operations from April 5 to 9 as its personnel continues to undergo testing for COVID-19.

“We should not compromise the health, safety, and security of the traveling public and our working people. That is a non-negotiable position,” said DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade.

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will be operating on a limited scale with only 10 to 12 trains to be dispatched. The trains will have a limited capacity of 372 passengers per trainset or 124 passengers per car to comply with the pre-determined number of passengers per station. Affected MRT-3 passengers may take the augmenting buses running on the EDSA Carousel route, which can be accessed at the following MRT-3 stations: North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, GMA Kamuning, Santolan, Ortigas, and Guadalupe.

The Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1) will be dispatching 17 trains, while LRT-1 will be operating with five on their limited operations. Affected LRT-1 passengers will be accommodated by buses running on Route 17 (Monumento-EDSA), while displaced LRT-2 commuters will be serviced by bus routes 9 (Cubao-Antipolo) and 10 (Cubao-Manila, Sta. Mesa, Sampaloc, Sta. Cruz).

Meanwhile, the management of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) has announced that it will be suspending its operations until April 8. Once the PNR resumes its operations on April 9, it will be dispatching 10-12 trains as compared to its pre-ECQ operations of 6-10 trains.

Tugade ordered all train personnel who are considered active COVID-19 cases or are still waiting for their test results will be kept in isolation. Their close contacts who had been identified after contact tracing, as well as those showing COVID-19 symptoms will also be barred from entering their trains and facilities.

Furthermore, they are enforcing stricter health and safety measures in all MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 facilities and trains to curb the spread of the coronavirus and safeguard its staff and passengers.

Part of the strict health protocols being enforced includes the “seven commandments” that must be strictly observed and followed inside public transport and facilities: wear masks and face shields; no talking and telephone calls; no eating; keep public utility vehicles (PUVs) well-ventilated; conduct of frequent disinfection; no passengers with COVID-19 symptoms are to be allowed inside PUVs; and appropriate physical distancing rule.

“Passengers inside the trains who will be caught violating these protocols shall be escorted out on the next station, while appropriate disciplinary action/suspension shall be imposed on personnel caught violating the same rules,” he added.

Source: Department of Transportation – Philippines Facebook page