The private operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) is extending operating hours ahead of the busy Christmas season in a move likely to come as a relief to commuters and motorists alike.
Light Rail Manila Corp., a company backed by Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said operating hours have been extended to 11 p.m. daily.
That is roughly a one-hour extension for weekday operations and an hour and a half more during weekends.
This new schedule would run from Dec. 3 to 23 this year.
Light Rail Manila said seven additional trips would be added every night “in keeping with the demand for late night urban transport.”
Specifically, the operator said there will be more northbound trains from Baclaran every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m. and every 15 minutes after 10 p.m. on weekdays. The last train from Baclaran leaves at 11 p.m.
From Roosevelt on weekdays, there will be additional southbound trips at 10 p.m., 10:10 p.m., 10:20 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 10:45 p.m. and 11 p.m.
On weekends, last trips for Baclaran and Roosevelt will also be at 11 p.m.
The company said it already added 14 trips to the weekday service hours for early morning and late night operations last August./rga