LRT, MRT announce 4-day operation stoppage

MANILA, Philippines - The managements of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Metrostar Express on Monday announced a four-day suspension of their respective operations during the Holy Week beginning Maundy Thursday. In a public announcement published in major newspapers Monday, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said it will take advantage of the operation stoppage for the observance of the Lenten Season to have their transit system undergo regular maintenance. The LRTA operates the 15-kilometer LRT Line 1 (Yellow Line) which travels in three Metro Manila cities, and the 13.8-km Line 2 (Purple Line), which traverses five cities. "In observance of Holy Week, and to give way to the scheduled yearly maintenance of the systems, LRT Line 1 (Baclaran-Monumento) and LRT Line 2 (Santolan-Recto) operations and services will be suspended for four days from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, March 20-23, 2008," the LRTA said in the announcement. Meanwhile, the management of the MRT III said it will stop operations in its 13 train stations from March 20-23 in observance of the Holy Week and to give way to the yearly maintenance check of their system. Services for both mass transit lines will resume Monday, March 24. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV