LRT2 to add more running trains by April, says LRTA

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), which manages the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2), is eyeing to add more train sets running by April, in time for the opening of the East Extension project.

“We are fast-tracking the restoration of the three train sets to augment the existing operational trains of Line 2 and to reduce the current 14-minute headway to nine minutes,” LRTA administrator Reynaldo Berroya said.

Berroya led a random inspection of the ongoing installation of train propulsion system and train monitoring system on three train sets at LRT2 Depot Maintenance Area last week, LRTA said in a statement on Thursday.

The agency said LRT2 maintenance provider AMSCO JV - a joint venture of APT Global Inc., MultiScan Corporation, and Opus Land, Inc. - and manufacturer Woojin Industrial Systems Co, Ltd. started the installation of the said systems on March 3.

It added that fielding more trains will result to the accommodation of more than 20,000 passengers daily in addition to the current average daily ridership of 40,000.

“As train occupancy of passengers is regulated during this time of pandemic with passenger safety as our top priority, deploying additional trains will certainly help us cut the travel time of our commuters,” Berroya said.

The LRTA said the LRT2 Engineering Department reported that the restoration of the two trains involved in the collision incident in 2019 is currently underway and is eyed for completion in the third quarter of 2021.

“With the commitment provided by our maintenance provider, manufacturer, and the LRTA, we expect to have eight train sets and 10 train sets by second quarter and third quarter of 2021, respectively,” Berroya said.

The LRTA administrator added that other down trains are set to be rehabilitated and new trainsets are planned to be procured for the LRT2 East and West Extension projects. — RSJ, GMA News