MRT-3 breaches 300,000-passenger mark

MANILA, Philippines — Over 300,000 passengers rode the trains of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) last Friday, a first since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country over two years ago.

The MRT-3 trains, which traverse EDSA from Quezon City to Pasay City, carried 309,225 commuters on April 1, the rail line reported.

The MRT-3 will continue to give free train rides to the public until April 30.

The MRT-3’s deployment of four-car train sets – from the usual three-car train sets – and Dalian trains during the rush hour, as well as an increase in train capacity, with each train set carrying a total of 1,576 passengers, contributed to the surge in the number of passengers, it added.

The MRT-3 management reminded passengers to continue following health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

Metro Manila is under Alert Level 1 until April 15, wherein full capacity in public transport is allowed.

The government banned public transport at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 but restored it three months later, with a limit on seating capacity.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, an average of 250,000 to 300,000 passengers rode MRT-3 trains every day, the management noted.