DOTC : Fare hike for LRT1, LRT2 and MRT3 takes effect Sunday

The Metro Rail Transit (MRT 3) shall implement the new distance-base fare scheme effective January 4, 2015 as displayed on Saturday (January 3, 2015) at the MRT station in Pasay City. (PNA photo by Gil S. Calinga)

MANILA — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Saturday reminded passengers who take the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 that its fare hike takes effect Sunday (Jan 4, 2015).

“Please be informed that the fare increase for LRT1, LRT2 and MRT3 will be implemented starting 4 January 2015,” the DOTC said on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts.

DOTC has also posted the revised fare matrices on line for public viewing.

DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier said that it was about time to implement the Php 11 (base fare) plus an additional Php 1 per kilometer for fares at the LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3.

“We delayed its implementation one last time until after the Christmas season,” Abaya said. “While 2015 will see increased fares, it will also see marked improvements in our LRT and MRT services.”

Abaya said that the primary solution to long lines at the MRT-3 is in progress as new light rail vehicles (LRVs) are already being manufactured.

He, however, assured that the prototype unit will be delivered in August 2015, and after one month of testing, three to four additional LRVs or train cars will be delivered until all 48 units are operational.

This will improve the current three-car configuration to a four-car configuration, allowing more passengers to board for each arrival.

The DOTC chief said that the headway or the gap between train arrivals will also be faster, from the current three minutes down to 2.5 minutes.