LRTA says working to ease inconvenience caused by lack of trains

MANILA — The Light Rail Transit Authority vowed to continue improving its services as it apologized to the riding public for the inconvenience caused by a lack of trains.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon conducted an inspection early Wednesday, November 4, at the LRT-2 Antipolo Station to check passenger congestion during peak hours.

“Sasampu na lang kasi ‘yung nasa operational status. Ang nangyayari, kinukulang na ito para maisakay natin nang maayos ‘yung ating mga pasahero,” LRTA Administrator Hernando Cabrera told state media PTV in a phone interview Wednesday.

(We only have ten trains on operational status so there are not enough to accomodate our passengers.)

LRT-2 passengers have to queue for up to 40 minutes before even reaching the train paltform as the line struggles to accomodate around 4,000 excess passengers.

Cabrera said the wait at the platform and the actual trip add up to travel time of around an hour. 

“Gusto kong humingi ng paumanhin sa ating mga pasahero dahil sa kakulangan ng tren natin,” he noted. 

(I apologize to our passengers for the lack of trains.)

One of the measures seen pending additional trains is to add more buses that can take train passengers.

This, as the delivery of trains would take a minimum of three years and would cost billions of pesos.

Cabrera said LRTA will meet with local government units and trransport operators on the planned bus augmentation program.

The LRTA official assured the public of continuous maintenance of facilities at train stations and the upgrading of systems, including train control operating panels.

“’Yung aircon nung ating mga trainset, 10 years old na. Due for rehabilitation na. Kaya by next year, isinama ito namin sa aming regular budget,” he said.

(Airconditioners on our trainsets are 10 years old and are due for rehabilitation. That has been included in our regular budget for next year.)