70% capacity in LRT, MRT, PNR to be implemented on Nov. 4

Starting Thursday, Nov. 4, public transport in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, including Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3, and the Philippine National Railways (PNR), will be increased to 70 percent capacity.

MRT OIC General Manager Sec. Eymard Eje said that from 30 percent passenger capacity, the rail transit systems will impose the 70 percent capacity.

Eje gave an exact headcount of the 70 percent capacity for the train wagons. The total figures of the allowed passenger capacity are as follows:

• LRT 1
  

  1st generation - 785 max. cap.

  2nd generation - 951 max. cap.

  3rd generation - 972 max. cap.

• LRT 2 - 1,140 max. cap.
• MRT 3 - 827 max. cap.
• PNR - 667 max. cap.

Since the start of the opening of the public transport from 30 percent, the management has executed simulations to come up with an estimated number of passengers per station as station personnel and marshalls are monitoring the volume of commuters to ensure that there will be no excess passengers beyond the limited capacity. 

With the 70 percent capacity for public transports, the fear of the higher risk of virus transmission from commuters escalates. But Eje ensured the general public that train marshalls who are inside the trains are monitoring the physical distancing of the passengers while the platform marshalls per station are supervising the number of passengers allowed to board the train.

Eje added that the rail transit systems’ vaccination rate of their personnel is already at 93 percent.