LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) reported a record ridership for the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9, Tuesday.
LRMC reported a 14 percent increase in throughput from 494,323 passengers on the same day last year, to 565,928 this year. This figure is also higher by 26 percent over the total ridership of 448,328 in 2016.
Juan Alfonso, LRMC president and chief executive officer, said despite the record ridership, passenger comfort was not compromised.
“The teamwork and customer focus of LRMC team members allowed us to anticipate the surge in passengers and still deliver efficient service,” Alfonso said. “There was zero incident for that day with 96 light rail vehicles (LRVs) comprising 30 trains on the line.”
LRMC also extended the operating hours of LRT-1 last January 9 to accommodate the pilgrims of the Black Nazarene until 11 p.m.
Earlier, the private operator reported the completion of rail replacement of the 29-kilometer tracks traversing Roosevelt Station in Quezon City and Baclaran Station in Pasay City.
It has also increased the number of daily trips from 498 to 554, with reduced headway, or interval between trains, from five minutes to 3.5 minutes.
In less than two years since assuming management of LRT-1, LRMC has improved efficiencies resulting in increased number of trains and trips, reduced passenger waiting time, improved safety and cleanliness of the stations, increased ridership, extended operating hours, increased customer satisfaction and the achievement of ISO certifications for quality management and environmental management, all unprecedented milestones in the 32-year history of Manila’s oldest light rail system.
