No more afternoon express train services for MRT3; morning special trips till May 20

Commuters taking the Metro Rail Transit may no longer expect the Express Trains starting Wednesday afternoon, the Department of Transportation and Communications said.

But the DOTC, in a post on its Twitter account, said:

MRT3 will no longer have express train services in the afternoon. Morning express trips will continue until May 20 as originally scheduled.

— DOTC (@DOTCPhilippines) May 14, 2014

Earlier, the DOTC said the MRT express trains – which will skip some stations – aim to ease the crowding of the MRT, which connects North Avenue to Taft Avenue via Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

At the time, DOTC spokesman Michael Sagcal said the run would start with southbound trips from May 7 to 13, and both northbound and southbound trips from May 14 to 20.

Last May 7, dzBB reported Allan Gatus, who tried the scheme, noted long lines but faster trips.

Gatus reported at the time that passengers had to endure long lines at an MRT station in Quezon City, with the lines sometimes not moving for as long as 15 minutes.

But the wait was worth it for some passengers, who said the express train offered a faster ride.

The MRT has a rated capacity of 350,000 passengers a day, though up to 500,000 ride the trains daily. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News