Major railways to limit operations as personnel get tested for COVID-19

Major Philippine railways will resume operations this week, albeit on a limited scale, as personnel undergo testing for COVID-19 amid the continued surge in the daily cases being reported across the country.

In a virtual briefing on Sunday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it will continue to enforce strict health measures in all of the facilities and trains of major railways starting Monday, April 5, 2021.

Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3)

• Only 10 to 12 trains will be dispatched with a limited capacity of 372 passengers per train set or 124 passengers per car, in compliance with the pre-determined number of passengers per station.
• Augmenting buses will run on the EDSA Carousel route which can be accessed at the North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, GMA Kamuning, Santolan, Ortigas, and Guadalupe stations.

Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1)

• Only 17 trains will be dispatched.
• Affected passengers will be accommodated by busses running on Route 17 or Monumento to EDSA.

Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2)

• Only five trains will be dispatched.
• Displaced passengers will be accommodated by bus routes 9 and 10.

Philippine National Railways (PNR)

• Operations are suspended until Thursday, April 8, 2021.
• Upon resumption on Friday, April 9, some 10 to 12 trains will be deployed.

All rail sector personnel considered as active COVID-19 cases and those still waiting for their test results are required to be kept in isolation. Close contacts identified after contact tracing, and those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are also barred from entering rail facilities.

"We should not compromise the health, safety, and security of the traveling public and our working people. That is a non-negotiable position," Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. over the weekend announced the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for at least a week.

The ECQ was initially scheduled in NCR Plus -- covering Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan -- from March 29 to April 4.

The Philippines on Sunday reported 11,028 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 to bring the total to 795,051. This includes 135,526 active cases; 646,100 recoveries; and 13,425 deaths.

Major railways underwent maintenance last week as part of their regular schedule during the Holy Week holidays. — DVM, GMA News