LRT, MRT, PNR to resume ops with ‘reduced capacity’ once NCR is under GCQ

MANILA, Philippines — Once the National Capital Region (NCR) is placed under general community quarantine (GCQ), all rail operations will resume in a “reduced capacity”, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.

In a statement, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said  the LRT-1 will resume operations to carry 12 percent capacity or 158 passengers per trip, while the LRT-2 can transport 10 percent of passenger capacity or 160 passengers per trip.

As for the MRT-3, Batan said, the line will carry 13 percent of its capacity or 153 passengers, while each Philippine National Railway (PNR) train set will transport an average of 148 passengers, or about 20 percent of its average capacity per trip.

“The reduction in capacity per train car was based on physical simulations of passengers inside trains maintaining one-meter social distancing,” Batan said.

“To guide our commuters in observing the required one-meter social distancing, we are placing markers inside the trains and on station platforms, indicating the required spacing between and among passengers. We are also installing signages and other information materials to remind passengers of the health and safety protocols that are in place,” added Batan stressed.

Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, the DOTr said the LRT-1 line had a daily ridership of 500,000, the LRT-2 line had 200,000, and 300,000 passengers for the MRT-3 line.

Meanwhile, the DOTr said passenger concentration in trains, station platforms, concourses, and elevators, will also be limited the DOTr said.

The DOTr said the following passengers are not allowed to enter train stations: those who are not wearing the proper face mask, those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or with a registered body temperature of 37.8°C or higher, senior citizens, passengers aged 0-20, and pregnant passengers as they are susceptible to COVID-19.

“All station personnel is also required to wear face masks, and gloves, while security guards manning the bag inspection area, and the Commuter Welfare Desk (CWD) will have to wear face shields,” the department said.

Regular disinfection and sanitation of train interiors, station premises and facilities will likewise be conducted, while hand washing or disinfection stations will be put in place to adhere to sanitary measures, the DOTr added.

The DOTr noted that the enforcement of the safety standards covers all LRT-1, and MRT-3 stations, eight LRT-2 stations (from Araneta Center-Cubao to Recto), and all PNR stations between Malabon and the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna.

“We are ready to serve our commuters, in the event that the general community quarantine (GCQ) will be implemented in Metro Manila, and areas covered by our railway networks,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

“We have to follow the social distancing guidelines, and health protocols set by the [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases], meaning, we have to limit our passenger capacity per trip. This is to prevent COVID-19 from spreading while our commuters are in transit,” he added.

Metro Manila is currently under enhanced community quarantine until May 15 due to soaring COVID-19 cases.

As of Tuesday, the Philippines has recorded 9,684 COVID-19 cases, with 1,408 recoveries and 637 fatalities.

/MUF