MRT3 sees largest passenger volume since June 2020 reopening

The Metro Rail Transit's Line 3 (MRT3) carried over 293,000 passengers on Wednesday, the biggest volume of daily commuters since the rail line resumed operations amid the pandemic in June 2020.

In a Facebook post, the MRT3 said a total of 293,290 passengers availed themselves of free rides on March 30.

The railways management attributed the increase in ridership to the current free ride program of the government and the increased number of running trains.

“Matatandaan na nasa 250,000 hanggang 300,000 mga pasahero ang sumasakay sa MRT3 kada araw bago magsimula ang pandemya noong Marso 2020,” it said.

(It can be recalled that between 250,000 to 300,000 passengers rode the MRT3 every day before the pandemic started in March 2020.)

According to the MRT3, 18 three-car CKD train sets, two four-car CKD train sets and a Dalian train are running during morning and afternoon peak hours.

It noted that about 18 to 21 train sets are running at any given time.

Since December 2020, MRT3 reported, trains have been running at increased speeds of 60 kilometers per hour, reducing the average wait time between trains to 3.5 to 4 minutes from the previous 8.5 to 9 minutes.

“Sa kabilang banda, pinataas din ang passenger capacity ng bawat tren na kayang makapagsakay ng 1,576 na pasahero kada train set, at mayroong 394 na pasahero kada train car,” it said.

(On the other hand, the passenger capacity of each train has also been increased to accommodate 1,576 passengers per train set, and there are 394 passengers per train car.)

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and MRT-3 management earlier said they would study if they should extend offering free rides beyond April 30.

MRT3 OIC-general manager Mike Capati stated they are expecting around 300,000 to 400,000 passengers a day during the period of MRT3 free rides. — Mel Matthew Doctor/BM, GMA News