The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced changes to the operation hours of major train lines in Metro Manila to manage the anticipated increase in passenger volume during the holiday season.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista stated that the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3 and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2 will extend their hours starting December 16 to accommodate more holiday travelers.
“On select days, our trains will start earlier in the morning and run later into the night to better serve our passengers during the holidays,” Bautista shared in a press release. He added that these changes also aim to give rail workers more time with their families.
From December 16 to 23, the MRT-3 will begin its first trip from North Avenue at 4:30 a.m. and from Taft Avenue at 5:05 a.m. The final trains will depart at 10:34 p.m. from North Avenue and at 11:08 p.m. from Taft Avenue. On December 24 and 31, the last departures will be earlier, at 7:45 p.m. from North Avenue and 8:23 p.m. from Taft Avenue. Operations on December 25 and January 1 will begin at 6:30 a.m., concluding at 9:30 a.m. from North Avenue and 10:09 p.m. from Taft Avenue. Regular hours will resume from December 26 to 30 and from January 2 onward.
LRT-2 will start commercial operations at 5 a.m. from December 17 to 23, with the last trips at 9:30 p.m. from Antipolo and 10 p.m. from Recto. On December 24, operations will also start at 5 a.m., but the final trips will be at 8 p.m. from Antipolo and 8:30 p.m. from Recto. Regular schedules will continue from December 25 to 30 and from January 1 onwards.
LRT-1 will begin its adjusted operating hours on December 20, with early starts at 4:30 a.m. from both Dr. Santos and FPJ stations. The last trains on December 20 and 23 will depart at 10:30 p.m. from Dr. Santos and 10:45 p.m. from FPJ.
These extended hours aim to make travel more convenient for the increased number of holiday passengers and help rail employees enjoy the festive season with their families.
