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HIGHER CAPACITY Commuters on an MRT 3 train sit one meter apart to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. —CHILD JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines – MRT 3 will increase its maximum passenger capacity from the current 13 percent to 30 percent starting Monday to accommodate more travelers, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
With this setting, each train will be able to accommodate 372 passengers per trip, out of just 153 passengers as of June 1.
“The increase in train capacity is a timely boost for MRT 3 as the public demands more public transportation amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” said MRT 3 COO Michael Capati .
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also directed the rail sector to increase the passenger capacity of trains by up to 30 percent, or about 20 to 50 percent of their original capacity, under the new policy.
In addition to increasing the train’s capacity, Capati said they were also working to shorten waiting time and make travel time faster for their passengers.
With the installation of new welded rails at all MRT 3 stations, the operating speed of the railway line is expected to gradually increase from 40 kilometers per hour this month to 50 kilometers per hour next month and finally to 60 kilometers per hour in December.
DOTr seeks to increase the capacity of public service vehicles (USPs) by implementing the separate seat rule in mass transit.
According to Circular No. 2020-061 of the Land Transport Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the rule of a separate seat must be implemented in all USPs.
But passengers will be able to sit next to each other as long as a plastic barrier is installed between their seats.
The LTFRB released updated guidelines on ground transportation on Friday as USPs revert to the one-seat rule separate from the one-meter physical distance protocol that was being implemented across all modes of public transportation.
The new guidelines also emphasized that passengers should practice proper behavior inside vehicles, such as the proper use of a mask and face shield, and avoid chatting or eating.
For more news on the new coronavirus, click here.
What you need to know about the coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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