Operations for the LRT-2's Santolan, Katipunan, and Anonas stations resumed on Friday after more than a year of being closed.
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The three stations closed in October 2019 after the power rectifier in Katpunan caught fire and compromised power supply.
The Light Rail Transit Authority which manages the train line said tests confirmed the stability and reliability of the provisional power supply for the reopening of the stations.
The first train will leave Santolan Station at 5 a.m. daily, and the last trip will leave at 8:30 p.m. For Recto Station, the first trip will leave at 5 a.m. daily while the last trip will leave at 9 p.m.
Plan your commute
Since the stations and trains are running on temporary power, passengers will have to allot more time for their commute as there are speed restrictions to ensure the safety of commuters and staff.
The trains can run at only 30 kilometers per hour as it approaches Anonas station, which will take an average of 14 minutes waiting time for commuters.
With the speed restriction, travel time from Santolan to Recto stations will take more than 35 minutes, 7 minutes longer than the usual 28 minutes it takes when the system is in normal condition.
LRTA assured commuters that restoration and repair works will be fast-tracked for the LRT-2 so normal operations can resume.
"We are hoping to deploy more trains on LRT-2’s fleet so we are expediting the restoration of down trains. Fielding more trains will reduce the current headway and add more passengers to our current 32,000 average daily ridership as affected by the pandemic restrictions," Berroya said.
Health and safety protocols
Passengers are required to observe minimum health standards to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
Mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields, temperature scans, regulated entry of passengers, and physical distancing will be implemented.
The LRT-2 also has a no talking policy in stations and aboard trains.
Frequently-touched surfaces such as ticket vending machines, AFCS gates, and handrails will be disinfected hourly. The train's interior will be disinfected after every loop.
Alcohol dispensers will be available at strategic locations inside the stations and liquid hand soaps will be available inside restrooms.
All staff at stations and inside trains will wear face masks and face shields.
Cashless transactions
To minimize contact, cashless transactions will be implemented at all stations.
"Buying and loading of tickets are being done only at ticket vending machines and e-loading machines to reduce physical contact between passengers and tellers," Berroya said.
Check out the test run:
