National Capital Region Trains to Increase Passenger Capacity to 30-Percent Today

  

Photo from DOTr-MRT-3

To boost the government’s economic recovery efforts from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has instructed the railways sector to gradually increase the maximum passenger capacity of trains to accommodate more commuters beginning today, Monday, October 19.

In a press release, the DOTr said the Philippine National Railway (PNR), Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), and the Lines 1 and 2 of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) will increase their respective minimum passenger capacities from 18-percent to 30-percent. It will then be gradually expanded up to 50-percent capacity.

Due to the gradual increase of passenger capacity, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan said Tugade gave instructions to adjust social distancing marks inside the trains and to strictly follow the seven commandments to prevent COVID-19 infections.

"Our railway lines are preparing for the increased capacity, initially to 30 percent. Ang bilin po ni Secretary Tugade, dapat po ay dahan-dahan ang pagdagdag sa kapasidad ng mga tren at siguruhing mahigpit na ipatutupad ang seven commandments upang maprotektahan ang kalusugan ng ating mga commuter (The instruction of Secretary Tugade was a gradual increase in train capacity and make sure seven commandments are followed to protect the health of the commuters)," Batan said.

To curb the spread of COVID-19 amid these developments, Tugade ordered the transport sector to ensure the strict enforcement of the seven commandments inside public transport, as recommended by health experts:

The seven commandments to curb the spread of COVID-19 include:

1. no talking; 
2. no making phone calls; 
3. no eating; 
4. keep public utility vehicles (PUVs) well-ventilated; 
5. conduct frequent disinfection; 
6. no passengers with COVID-19 symptoms would be allowed inside public transportation; and
7.  observe appropriate physical distancing ('one-seat apart' rule).

Conspicuously absent from the aforementioned seven commandments are the first two which were given by the DOTr when it added almost 5,000 jeepneys back to the streets which are:

1. wearing of face masks; 
2. wearing of face shield; 

Train marshals will be deployed in stations and inside the trains to ensure stringent compliance of passengers.

With the new passenger capacity, the MRT-3 train capacity will increase from 153 to 372 passengers per train set and 591 passengers once 50 percent capacity is implemented.

"The increased train capacity is a big help for our passengers. Shorter waiting time and the faster travel time will also help them to have better service from the rail line. We will make sure that as we implement the increased capacity inside the trains, we will also strictly enforce our health and safety protocols for the benefit of our passengers," MRT-3 Director for Operations Michael Capati said.

The MRT-3 also increased its train speed to 40 kilometers per hour on October 1 after completion of the installation of new long-welded rails (LWRs) in all the MRT-3 stations, as part of the massive rehabilitation program of the rail line, which is being implemented by Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy from Japan. Its operating speed will gradually increase to 50kph by November and 60kph by December 2020.

The LRT-1 line, on the other hand, will also be increasing its passenger capacity to 370 passengers per train set. Once capacity is increased to 40-percent, it will be able to load up to 495 passengers per train set and with 50-percent, 620 passengers.

For the LRT-2, trains will be able to accommodate 486 passengers per train set at 30-percent capacity, 652 passengers for 40-percent, and 814 at 50-percent capacity.

Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Reynaldo Berroya said the increased passenger capacity will ensure that more workers will be brought to their workplaces as Metro Manila and its adjacent areas slowly reopen for business under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

"We welcome this new development from the DOTr and we assure compliance. This eased physical distancing rule and increase in train capacity will benefit a greater number of our valued commuters while also supporting the country's journey towards economic growth and recovery," Berroya said.