Metro Manila LRT and MRT Lines - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 20

apiong

June 29th, 2008, 01:50 PM

another alternative:

just one track extension from Taft to MOA... it will significantly lessen the cost... now since this single "spur" track will lead to the MOA station (a terminus), it can divide into two once it reaches MOA station so that it can accommodate two trains at a time (one departing toward Taft once another train just arrived from Taft)...

on the Taft Ave. - MRT-3 intersection issue:

- closing the intersection to grade-level vehicular traffic due to an at-grade MRT-3 extension would probably anger the jeepney drivers and complicate the traffic situation there, unless they find an alternative route...

but in my proposal, since it only entails one track towards MOA, would probably make a tunnel option for the MRT a more cost effective solution.
(an overhead carriageway over LRT-1 for MRT-3 would be prohibitedly expensive and require a very long approach to be within the slope limitations of the MRT-3's trains)

- but I guess the cheapest solution is just close-off the Taft-EDSA intersection and just let the jeepneys find an alternative route... and extend the MRT-3 to MOA. :nuts:

- but then again, SM could build a monorail around bay city and just make a terminus station at EDSA-Taft :cheers:

IndioBravo

June 29th, 2008, 06:38 PM

bustero

June 30th, 2008, 09:27 AM

^^Definitely the Fastest to Implement at lowest cost.

In the long run, best is to put taft ave underground so MRT3 can extens all the way to MOA or at least Macapagal then run southwest along Macapagal. These are all big developments and both SM and Pagcor can easily afford to build an integrated circulator line linking up their developments and the MRT3.

At this point MRT3/LRT1/LRT5 is now some super line and they should invest in better traffic management techonology to shorten headway as well as more modern larger capacity trainsets.

RonnieR

June 30th, 2008, 09:30 AM

jefflacs

June 30th, 2008, 09:31 AM

Just curious, where is the route of LRT 5? Thanks

it's the LRT-1 south extension to bacoor right?

RonnieR

June 30th, 2008, 09:33 AM

^^ ah okay....I'm a bit confused because the development right now is not in accordance to its number and they use LRT or MRT, i.e. MRT 7 is ahead of MRT 4 or from LRT 1, LRT2 then MRT3, :) Although I know it has to do with funding and stocks used, whether heavy or light rails.

jefflacs

June 30th, 2008, 10:16 AM

Now that lim is the mayor manila sana buksan niya ang plan for MRT-4, pwede naman magawan ng paraan... sabi nga ng prof ko nung college, kung gusto gagawan ng paraan, kung ayaw gagawan ng dahilan xD :lol:

habagatcentral1

June 30th, 2008, 11:50 AM

They could start a bus line dedicated solely for MOA and MRT.With 10-15 minute intervals and specific bus stops.This buses should have drivers monthly salaried and run by bio-diesel to lessen carbon footprint.:)

Definitely this would be great, at an affordable cost and good for initial phase.

The question is, where would you park the buses? Pasay Rotonda has one of the most chaotic traffic junctions there is in the Metro. The bus terminals are also there, and they add up to the worsening traffic situation being an extension of Baclaran.

I think there are multicabs serving the MRT/LRT-MOA route already.

anonymous_filipino

June 30th, 2008, 01:19 PM

May naiisip ako.. Medyo expensive nga lang.. It goes like this: shut down the Taft Station, reconstruct the MRT from the Magallanes Interchange from its present at-grade section to elevated (mas mataas yung tracks kesa dun sa Tramo flyover at LRT 1). Parang ang dating niyan is yung LRT 1 at 2 dun sa Avenida Rizal-Recto intersection. Yung Taft Station will be like the Recto Station diba? At pwede nang i-extend papunta sa MOA yung MRT

Sky Harbor

June 30th, 2008, 01:59 PM

Just curious, where is the route of LRT 5? Thanks

No...MRT-5 is (or was) the Metro Manila portion of Northrail. The LRT-1 South Extension is LRT-6.

bustero

July 1st, 2008, 05:18 AM

^^you're right I meant lrt6! lrt5 is kinda dead.

wheel of steel

July 1st, 2008, 05:53 AM

No...MRT-5 is (or was) the Metro Manila portion of Northrail. The LRT-1 South Extension is LRT-6.

This is correct... Latest revision is that it will run elevated along the PNR from Caloocan to Sta. Mesa then Shaw Blvd. to Pasig City and dive underground to Fort Bonifacio. MRT5 is the Metro Rail Commuter Service of Northrail the will run from Fort Bonifacio to Guiguinto Intemodal Transport. It will have a min. headway of 5 min and later expandable to 2 min.

RonnieR

July 1st, 2008, 12:49 PM

No...MRT-5 is (or was) the Metro Manila portion of Northrail. The LRT-1 South Extension is LRT-6.

Thanks Sky Harbor, WOS and Bustero for the clarification.

habagatcentral1

July 7th, 2008, 05:09 PM

This is what you get when you are at Taft Avenue Station (Pasay Rotunda)

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/16/P7073215.JPG?et=gISv64XguUCgShVru%2CV7Yg&nmid=97827103

Yup, people queuing to purchase ticket.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/17/P7073225.JPG?et=csE1xGfCLkA9z2UmMssirg&nmid=97827103
MRT @ North EDSA

Going home
Suspisyoso sila sa akin :D
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/18/P7073226.JPG?et=Dnp%2Csn%2Ca4181VqZIuu5WIQ&nmid=97827103

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/19/P7073227.JPG?et=jPJxA2gHsovUmF0ujMb28g&nmid=97827103

Streaks
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/20/P7073229.JPG?et=Vcn%2BdHW8uHbpbI2qjRxFsQ&nmid=97827103

Blackraven

July 7th, 2008, 07:57 PM

This is what you get when you are at Taft Avenue Station (Pasay Rotunda)

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/16/P7073215.JPG?et=gISv64XguUCgShVru%2CV7Yg&nmid=97827103

Shit, such chaos. :nuts::ohno:

Damn, kailangan na ata siguro na sa Buendia station na ako bibili ng stored value tickets.......lest abutin ako ng siyam-siyam para lamang makabiyahe papuntang DLSU-TAFT.

IndioBravo

July 7th, 2008, 11:29 PM

^^Gees,now who's w/ me that we need more LRT trains ASAP!:hi:

alcogoodwin

July 8th, 2008, 01:57 AM

^^Gees,now who's w/ me that we need more LRT trains ASAP!:hi:

Or that future elevated railways be made heavy rail, with larger wide bodied electric stock, possible double deck and 10 cars in length?

filcan

July 8th, 2008, 03:12 AM

double decker on elevated rail seems a bit risky...

pau_p1

July 8th, 2008, 03:25 AM

actually that is the same situation in Ayala during rush hour... napupuno ang buong deck ng station.. as in yung buong platform before pumasok sa turnstiles... well at least those are people queueing for guard inspections...

dapat tanggalin na rin yung mga guard na nanunundot ng stick sa bags sa MRT.. kasi like in Ayala... there are 5 turnstiles.. pero 3 ang guards and it takes time para magsundot ng bag... i think that's one reason kung bakit nag-ooverflow ang tao sa mall area nun...

plus.. they should make use of the vending machines... naka-display lang kasi.. or sometimes di alam ng mga pasahero na nag-eexist yung mga machines na yun...

kalbongdad

July 8th, 2008, 03:45 AM

habagatcentral1

July 8th, 2008, 04:10 AM

antiquated kasi ang mga machines ng mrt3 unlike the ones being used by lrt2 na the same caliber ng sa hk mtr....yung ibang machines coins lang ang pwede ano ba yan.....sa cubao na lang makikita mo sobrang haba ng pila....

But goodness, most the LRT vendo machines in LRT-2 are not functioning most of the time, like the ones in Katipunan Station. Also the very long queue at Recto and Cubao stations. And now majority of the vendo machines don't accept P20 bills!

But at least they have papalit ng bagong beinte o sinkwenta or pabarya ng beinte window. :lol:

With regard to MRT, nagkamali siguro ang Sumitomo sa kanilang feasibility studies. Why did they prefer to use light-rail or trams on MetroManila's busiest thoroughfare? Also, some stations are in dire need of expansion such as Araneta-Center Cubao and because of Trinoma, North Avenue Station and Taft Avenue Station. The chaos combined with pedestrian traffic is so utteringly discouraging especially the long queue getting in.

habagatcentral1

July 8th, 2008, 04:11 AM

kalbongdad

July 8th, 2008, 04:36 AM

jefflacs

July 8th, 2008, 04:36 AM

^^ and at the same time increase the number of trains in service kasi sa platform naman magkakaroon ng problem specially sa ayala station na sobrang liit ng platform pwede kang mahulog ano mang oras xD

habagatcentral1

July 8th, 2008, 04:40 AM

talaga hindi na rin gumagana ang mga vendo machines ng tickets sa mrt2.....well that is sad....pagdating talaga sa maintenance mahina talaga tayo....case in point....yung lrt2 recto station para nang squatter....mga kawad ng kuryente na nakabalandra sa sahig....mga tindahan na madumi...:bash:...kakainis....bilyon dollar na investments nasisira lang dahil sa mga palamig...na tinda....hotdog...at kung anu-ano pa....pwede naman magawang malinis ang istasyon kahit meron mga paninda pero ang station manager dyan...does not know how it is done....clueless....dapat palitan....well bubuhayin ko ulit ang blog ko to make commentaries sa mga bagay na ito....:bash::bash::bash::bash:

Go and make reklamo, so that we could air out our voices of dismay of the maintenance of the mass transit system in the Metro. Kakainis nga at ganito ang nangyayari sa mass transit natin. If the government is encouraging us to use the mass transit system due to soaring oil prices, then they should have improve their service even better.

^^ and at the same time increase the number of trains in service kasi sa platform naman magkakaroon ng problem specially sa ayala station na sobrang liit ng platform pwede kang mahulog ano mang oras xD

Malaking tignan ang Ayala Station sa labas pero sa platform sobrang nipis. And the passenger volume here has a sheer size.

kalbongdad

July 8th, 2008, 04:42 AM

alcogoodwin

July 8th, 2008, 04:53 AM

double decker on elevated rail seems a bit risky...

Risky?
Why would they be risky?
Can't say we have problems with them.

pau_p1

July 8th, 2008, 06:08 AM

I was thinking what if they add more turnstiles in Ayala Station and those "hub" stations that has higher passenger volume?

well kahit dagdagan nila ng turnstiles eh.. kung konti lang yung guard sa turnstiles.. same din...

leechtat

July 8th, 2008, 07:24 AM

actually that is the same situation in Ayala during rush hour... napupuno ang buong deck ng station.. as in yung buong platform before pumasok sa turnstiles... well at least those are people queueing for guard inspections...

^^ i must agree.. it was a monstrous crowd queueing for the guard's forlorn inspection. i would have taken a picture of the crowded station but nahiya naman ako.. that day, i took the bus to boni station and went through the pioneer woodlands access to the mrt. at least boni station was not crowded at all..

imho, this is what you get from the escalating gas prices.. everyone would like to save money and just ride the mrt to get to work..

IsaganiZenze

July 8th, 2008, 07:33 AM

here's a link to an MSNBC article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25576947/)

shamhoy

July 8th, 2008, 07:38 AM

Public transit packed as gas soars in Metro Manila

By CARMEL CRIMMINS
Reuters

MANILA - As inflation soars in the Philippines and gasoline prices climb relentlessly, more and more commuters in the capital region are squeezing into suburban trains and public buses, putting an enormous strain on the services.

On the positive side, Metro Manila's legendary traffic jams are diminishing, but that's only good news for those who can afford to travel by car in this region of 15 million people.

Unlike consumers in many other Asian countries which subsidize fuel prices, Filipinos are forced to pay the free-market rate for gas. So far this year, they have been hit with 18 price hikes for a total increase of over 35 percent as global oil prices climb to stratospheric levels.

With unleaded gas now costing over 61 pesos ($1.34) a liter, tens of thousands of car owners are joining the queues for Metro Manila's already overcrowded above-ground suburban train system.

"It's a terrible journey," says Nestor Del Rosario, an executive at a call center who was traveling to the capital's Makati business district one recent morning by suburban train.

"The line to get on starts from the back of the train. I have never got a seat."

Around him people were wedged like sardines into the car and women cooled themselves with hand-held fans despite the air-conditioning. During the morning peak hour, queues to enter train stations trail down staircases into streets.

Trains are cheap, a key factor in a nation where one-third of the population live on less than $1 a day. With inflation reaching an annual 11.4 percent in June, the highest in 14 years, the pressure on the poor is worse than before.

Cut costs

Metro Manila is by far the richest region in the country, but its substantial middle class is susceptible to the fuel and food price increases that have led the inflationary surge.

For those looking to cut travel costs, the minimum train fare is a subsidized 12 pesos. But because there are only three suburban lines across the city, commuters then have to take a bus or a passenger van to their destination at a cost of a few more pesos.

Since fuel prices started increasing in earnest in the second quarter of this year, the number of passengers on the suburban system has soared.

"The LRT used to be seen as transport for the masses but now you can see more and more people wearing ties and barongs," said Mel Robles, administrator for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Authority, referring to the formal business shirt worn in offices.

"It's no longer a matter of choice but of necessity."

Two companies run the suburban network in Manila, the LRT and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Authority. Together they carried about one million people per day in May, up from about 984,000 at the start of the year.

Despite being squeezed into overcrowded trains, commuters are confident they are saving time and money.

"It's crowded but that is compensated by the short travel time and the cost," says Nancy Eleria, a professor of engineering at University of Santo Tomas in Manila, traveling to Makati by train.

"With the MRT it will take me 20 minutes but by car it could take two hours."

The Philippines has ambitious plans to extend suburban train services in Manila, eventually covering much of the city, but that will take years and cost billions of dollars. Meanwhile, the surge in demand for trains is worrying transport officials.

"The problem is that we can only take so much," said Roberto Lastimoso, a senior MRT official. "We have told the economic managers that our situation is becoming critical. It is an issue of national concern.

"At peak times it's so uncomfortable, passengers are jostling one another, passengers overflow at street level. You have to deal with jostling by other passengers and the smell of people."

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=124413

expand! expand! buy more trains! :nuts:

habagatcentral1

July 8th, 2008, 10:06 AM

^^ Emphasized pa talaga ang smell of the people. :lol: :lol:
Anyway, I also noticed the increased ridership of LRT-2 Purple Line in recent years, mostly by students who are studying at either the University belt or the Katipunan streets...

Or is it just me or is it that I've seen more Ateneo and Miriam students using the LRT than before?

venntro

July 9th, 2008, 06:31 AM

MRT3 wants new trains for better service (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=124552)

The management of the state-run Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3) has requested funds to buy new trains following the surge in passenger traffic.

Lysa Blancaflor, MRT3 spokeswoman, said that they are requesting funds from the National Economic and Development Authority for the purchase of 73 new trains.

The new trains, Blancaflor said, will replace 20 old trains that are servicing MRT3 trips from North Avenue-Taft Avenue and vice-versa.

She said that MRT3 management hopes that NEDA will release the funds soon so that the agency can provide fast and efficient service to hundreds of thousands of passengers each day.

Blancaflor added that by buying new trains, the agency would be able to cut down on service and maintenance costs.

As of end-May 2008, MRT3 trains collectively had an average of 506,000 passengers during peak days. The highest number was recorded on April 18 at 523,803 passengers.

During the same period last year, MRT3 trains took an average of 466,000 on peak days, with the highest being recorded on Jan. 12, 2007 at 475,193.

pau_p1

July 9th, 2008, 08:15 AM

hmmm... sana bigger trains ang ipalit na magfit sa current station space... they should really buy more trains now specially that the LRT 1 is now being extended, plus LRT 7 in the future...

crappypants

July 9th, 2008, 09:02 AM

kawawa talaga mga tao pagdating sa destinasyon nila, amoy pawis na at nakakapagod .

tigidig14

July 9th, 2008, 09:04 AM

buti nde lumalaki insidente ng pick-pocketing

habagatcentral1

July 9th, 2008, 09:07 AM

^^ Anong hindi?

demented_pigeon

July 9th, 2008, 10:26 AM

Manila-X

July 9th, 2008, 10:51 AM

karamihan na sa mga kilala kong atenista gumagamit na rin ng LRT2. mahal na kasi ang gumamit ng kotse.

I don't find anything wrong with them using mass transit. What's happening is this wrong perception of those of higher social status would prefre driving or having their own car and that mostly the working class or low/mid ranking white collared workers commute or use mass transit.

Its not like in HK or Japan where you see people with different social status use mass transit. Of course you would see the same thing in Manila but the ratio is much different.

Solblanc

July 9th, 2008, 11:57 AM

I don't find anything wrong with them using mass transit. What's happening is this wrong perception of those of higher social status would prefre driving or having their own car and that mostly the working class or low/mid ranking white collared workers commute or use mass transit.

Its not like in HK or Japan where you see people with different social status use mass transit. Of course you would see the same thing in Manila but the ratio is much different.

Uh, that's because mass transit in HK and Japan is actually a pleasant experience. If someone can afford to drive to work here in Manila, they do so because the air is cleaner, they don't have to fear being mugged, and they definitely won't have half the dirt of Manila caked on their faces when they get to their destination.

great184

July 9th, 2008, 12:26 PM

So much better - Smooth passenger flow, wider trains, and no guard inspections.

For the regular commuter it helps to buy stored value tickets to avoid the long queues to purchase a single purchase ticket. These can be bought at some certain stations at certain times without any hassle (Greenhills or even Shaw for example). Plus without with good timing you can squeeze up to Php 114 worth of tickets from a Php 100 Stored value ticket.

richard24

July 9th, 2008, 12:57 PM

sa MRT3 meron akong gpass, kaya walang sakit ng ulo :) heehehe., :) at least sa globe booth walang pila., :)

sa lrt 2 naman, madami naman gumagana na vendo machine kaso karamihan barya lang ang tinatanggap., nagpapalit naman ng barya ang PAO eh, pero minsan sila din nagbebenta ng tickets.

bustero

July 9th, 2008, 01:33 PM

Similar article.

MRT track is fine, you don't need heavy rail on it, you just need to buy more trains so you can increase the trainsets to 4 cars therefore accomodating about 100pax more per trip and the headway is faster. By doing this you can already accomodate an extra 30% more passengers. And you can still add more train sets and double the current capacity. There have been talks of a million person line on EDSA. Best if this was supplemented by a TRUE BRT on it.

For ticket purchases, they can and should think about putting more booths outside the station itself, allowing people to buy tickets from designated places. e.g. in Ayala, certain stalls in the mall or in the Shell Gas Station accross the street could be appointed as ticket agents and they can sell these at a small fee. At the very least they can lease space to vendo machines like an ATM.

For crowded platforms, well I've always said let's put platform doors so it's safe. If it's a full platform door, they can also aircondition the platform so that at least the crush is tolerable.

Vol. XXI, No. 241
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Today’s Headlines
Inflation chokes Metro Manila public transport

AS INFLATION SOARS and gasoline prices climb relentlessly, more and more commuters in Metro Manila are squeezing into suburban trains and public buses, putting an enormous strain on the services.

On the positive side, the capital’s legendary traffic jams are diminishing, but that’s only good news for those who can afford to travel by car in the city of 15 million people.

Unlike consumers in many other Asian countries which subsidise fuel prices, Filipinos are forced to pay the free-market rate for gas. So far this year, they have been hit with 18 price hikes for a total increase of over 35% as global oil prices climb to stratospheric levels.

With unleaded gas now costing over P61 a liter, tens of thousands of car owners are joining the queues for Manila’s already overcrowded above-ground suburban train system.

"It’s a terrible journey," says Nestor Del Rosario, an executive at a call center who was travelling to the capital’s Makati business district one recent morning by suburban train.

"The line to get on starts from the back of the train. I have never got a seat."

Around him people were wedged like sardines into the car and women cooled themselves with hand-held fans despite the air-conditioning. During the morning peak hour, queues to enter train stations trail down staircases into streets.

Trains are cheap, a key factor in a nation where one-third of the population live on less than $1 a day. With inflation reaching an annual 11.4% in June, the highest in 14 years, the pressure on the poor is worse than before.

Manila is by far the richest city in the country, but its substantial middle class is susceptible to the fuel and food price increases that have led the inflationary surge.

For those looking to cut travel costs, the minimum train fare is a subsidised P12. But because there are only three suburban lines across the city, commuters then have to take a bus or a passenger van to their destination at a cost of a few more pesos.

Since fuel prices started increasing in earnest in the second quarter of this year, the number of passengers on the suburban system has soared.

"The LRT used to be seen as transport for the masses but now you can see more and more people wearing ties and barongs," said Mel Robles, administrator for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Authority, referring to the formal business shirt worn in offices.

"It’s no longer a matter of choice but of necessity."

Two companies run the suburban network in Manila, the LRT and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Authority. Together they carried about one million people per day in May, up from about 984,000 at the start of the year.

Despite being squeezed into overcrowded trains, commuters are confident they are saving time and money.

"It’s crowded but that is compensated by the short travel time and the cost," says Nancy Eleria, a professor of engineering at University of Santo Tomas, travelling to Makati by train.

"With the MRT it will take me 20 minutes but by car it could take two hours."

The Philippines has ambitious plans to extend suburban train services in Manila, eventually covering much of the city, but that will take years and cost billions of dollars. Meanwhile, the surge in demand for trains is worrying transport officials.

"The problem is that we can only take so much," said Roberto Lastimoso, a senior MRT official. "We have told the economic managers that our situation is becoming critical. It is an issue of national concern.

"At peak times it’s so uncomfortable, passengers are jostling one another, passengers overflow at street level. You have to deal with jostling by other passengers and the smell of people." — Reuters
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW070908/content.php?id=003

shamhoy

July 9th, 2008, 03:13 PM

I dont know if this is allowed but can the MRT authorities purchase LPG/CNG buses to complement the existing line? Perhaps make it possible to accept MRT tickets and then have designated bus stops. :)

shamhoy

July 9th, 2008, 04:04 PM

MRT-7 will be ready in 12 months - Palace exec
07/09/2008 | 08:34 PM

MANILA, Philippines - After much time in the planning stage, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7 linking SM North EDSA area in Quezon City to Monumento in Caloocan City will be ready in 12 months.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita gave this timetable Wednesday as he said the "bullet-train" network will be extended all the way to Bulacan province.

In a Malacañang statement, Ermita said the MRT-7 line will complete the loop around Metro Manila once it is completed.

Malacañang earlier said it is decongesting the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-MRT network to accommodate commuters who will take the LRT and MRT due to high fuel prices.

Ermita said the document on the construction of MRT-7 was signed two weeks ago. - GMANews.TV

sinong gusto maniwala? :lol:

michael677

July 9th, 2008, 04:28 PM

well kahit dagdagan nila ng turnstiles eh.. kung konti lang yung guard sa turnstiles.. same din...

correct, as long as peace and order situation in the country doesnt improve, this problem wont be solved. pero sana instead of purchasing brand new lcd monitors sa stations (and note madami ito hindi lang sa ayala station), sana ticket machines, o air cooling system nalang

michael677

July 9th, 2008, 04:42 PM

isa pa yang ayala station...masikip na nga nilagyan pa ng aquarium...yung sa smart...pwede naman ilagay yun dun sa sulok dun pa nilagay sa may bilihan ng tiket....kaya pagmahaba ang pila....lalo pang sumikip....talagang mag obobs talaga itong mga station managers....palagay ko... these people does not have a clue on what a train station should look like....dapat ito ipadala sa abroad ng magkaroon ng idea.....baka sa iskwater ito mga nakatira kaya yung ganun na condition ay ok lang sa kanila....sanay na sila sa ganun na surroundings..notice yung mga tali tali ng kung ano-ano....at mga naka post sa pader na directions....typical na galing ito sa mga taong nakatira sa ganun din ang surroundings......

tama ! tama! look at bts skytrain. un trains comparable to ours, pero yun stations, neat and orderly. its practical, easy to read, family/tourist friendly. un atin naman, pang commute lang tlga to work most of the time!! talo pa nga lrt 2 sa design nito. dyan ako bilib sa kanila, kahit hindi ganon ka developed pa, nagagawa nilang maayos mga bagay bagay esp when it comes to basic public services.. parang as if kahit kulang sa budget, they wont accept mediocrity

richard24

July 9th, 2008, 04:46 PM

demented_pigeon

July 9th, 2008, 04:49 PM

I don't find anything wrong with them using mass transit. What's happening is this wrong perception of those of higher social status would prefre driving or having their own car and that mostly the working class or low/mid ranking white collared workers commute or use mass transit.

Its not like in HK or Japan where you see people with different social status use mass transit. Of course you would see the same thing in Manila but the ratio is much different.

i've never encountered anyone saying that using the mrt or lrt are mostly lower class. Most people i know who use the LRT would use it because it was convenient. Others use it now because of the high prices of petroleum products (unleaded is already at 61 pesos). My friends use it when they go to watch the UAAP games. I've never noticed that perception before. Maybe its just the crowd I'm with. But come to think of it many of my friends are in the B to A economic classes but they still use the LRT and the MRT.

spearhead

July 9th, 2008, 04:50 PM

GMANews.TV?!? go figure. :lol:

Someone from GMA journalism deserve to be fired. :bash:

mygz14

July 9th, 2008, 04:50 PM

GMANews.TV?!? go figure. :lol:

Actually, GMANews.TV got it here, http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=21449

MRT 7 will be ready in 12 months – Ermita
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2008 | TRANSPORTATION

The long-planned Metro Rail Transit (MRT) – 7 linking West Avenue in Quezon City and Monumento in Balintawak, Caloocan City will soon be built to complete the MRT loop around Metro Manila.

One of the government’s big-ticket infrastructure projects in Metro Manila, the MRT-7 will be “operationalized” to decongest the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-MRT network to accommodate the deluge of commuters opting to take the LRT and MRT trains which are not only cheaper but also faster ways of going to and from school and work.

This was revealed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita at his regular weekly briefing in Malacanang this afternoon.

The “missing link” between the SM North MRT station and Monumento will be ready in 12 months, said Ermita, adding that the “bullet-train” network would later be “extended all the way to Bulacan.”

The Executive Secretary said the document on the construction of MRT-7 was signed two weeks ago.

“I know that it is a ‘go thing’ already,” Ermita said.

The first-ever mass transport system in all of Southeast Asia, the LRT was built three years ahead of the Singapore’s MRT.

The LRT is operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC), and an attached agency of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Earlier yesterday, in another step to ease the plight of motorists, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, headed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, approved in principle the increase in the fare of public utility vehicles (PUV).

Earlier, the Arroyo administration had implemented a per-liter subsidy program for public utility vehicles (PUVs) like jeepneys, taxis and buses amid the continued world-wide increase in oil prices.

richard24

July 9th, 2008, 04:57 PM

^^ parang mali parin? :) weird naman ng mga news writers na to. mag SSC muna kaya sila? hahaha.,

or are they saying na yung monumento to north ave would be the extension of MRT7? kasi there's no mention of the lrt1? hay kaygulo naman.

cq40

July 9th, 2008, 05:51 PM

sus, mrt 7 palang mali na eh, mrt 7 was never planned to start at monumento and end at sm north lol!!!

it's the lrt1 extension, geez, i will fire the journalist who made this.
check nga ng site, sino kaya ang matalinong chismosa na toh...

habagatcentral1

July 9th, 2008, 07:56 PM

LRT-2 Megatren/Purple Line
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/21/P7093255.JPG?et=d%2CRf6AP4Et98U2UDj0%2CkgQ&nmid=97827103
Santolan-Pasig Station

habagatcentral1

July 9th, 2008, 08:08 PM

crappypants

July 9th, 2008, 08:15 PM

Ph Man

July 9th, 2008, 09:41 PM

nahilo din ako sa news ^^. MRT 7 to be ready in 12 months? di pa nga tumatayo ang kahit isang poste. yung ang mahirap sa press minsan. i dunno if they are recording statements or they are just writing them down. pero still they end up writing the wrong details. be responsible enough naman. what if the readers are unsuspecting public at naniwala sa article na nabasa niya? :ohno:

Bernie: ok yung composition mo ah. framing the train diagonally depicts motion.

bustero

July 9th, 2008, 10:30 PM

Here's a more professional source

Vol. XXI, No. 242
Thursday, July 10, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Today’s Headlines
Light rail ‘loop’ operational by 2010 elections

THE P6.4-BILLION Light Rail Transit (LRT) North Extension Project will be open for business in time for the 2010 presidential polls, officials yesterday said.

LRT Authority Administrator Melquiades A. Robles, in a statement, said the project "will bring the much needed relief to the traffic in the area."

During the project’s ground-breaking, Mr. Robles said Metro Manila’s light rail system had become a social commodity. Its expansion, he added, would decongest traffic, lessen pollution and provide the system more capacity.

He called the project, touted as "Closing the Loop", the government’s long-term response to rising fuel prices.

"Riding the LRT is the most efficient, fastest and cheapest way [to travel] and proven more so with the current fare among other modes of transportation," he said.

The project will connect the LRT Line 1, which runs from Baclaran to Monumento, with the MRT, which traverses Edsa from Pasay to North Ave. in Quezon city. It will involve an entirely elevated 5.4 kilometer viaduct and will feature three new stations: Balintawak, Roosevelt and North Stations.

A DMCI-First Balfour consortium has been awarded the A1, A2 and B packages of the project that will cover the construction of the stations and the train lines. Package C, which will cover the electronics side, is yet to be awarded.

First Balfour CEO Fiorello R. Estuar said the project’s P6.4 billion budget was under pressure due to the rise in prices of construction materials. He said this had prompted the company to redesign the project to make it more efficient to build. He assured however, that quality of construction would not suffer. — P. L. G. Montecillo

Juan Pilgrim

July 10th, 2008, 03:29 AM

michael677

July 10th, 2008, 05:13 PM

By the way, if you are a frequent metro user (as in you utilize the whole system almost everyday), you may get a Flash Pass for P250 a week. Valid to all lines of LRT and MRT all throughout the week, and no need to be on queue.

btw how does this card work? is it really trouble/hassle free? ive tried using gpass and i quit using it. the inconvenience is not worth it

habagatcentral1

July 10th, 2008, 05:20 PM

I think you just have to flash that Flash ID to the Guard.

Here's the link for more information:
http://www.lrta.gov.ph/flashpass_project.htm

kratos1211

July 10th, 2008, 06:26 PM

:cheers1:

No LRT fare hike
PhilStar
By Rainier Allan Ronda
Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) will not seek a fare increase for the LRT, and no fare hike is expected for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) despite the rise in fares for buses, jeepneys and taxis.

Melquiades Robles, LRTA administrator, said that although a fare increase could boost revenues and raise funds for maintenance and operating expenses of the agency, they would abide by President Arroyo’s policy of maintaing current fares for LRT lines 1 and 2, and even line 3 or the MRT.

“There has been a need for an increase for a long time. But it has been the policy of the President to help our commuters,” Robles said.

He said the government has effectively subsidized fares to ensure that commuters will have access to an efficient, convenient, environment-friendly mode of transportation amid the rising costs of other public transport.

“In fact, every passenger is subsidized by the government by P30 to P40 per ride,” Robles told reporters yesterday.

He said the government has been consistent in the provision of subsidies for food, electricity and transportation.

For his part, Roberto Lastimoso, MRT general manager, said they have a pending fare hike petition which they file every year before the Office of the President that they do not expect to be granted.

Closing the loop

Meanwhile, the actual construction work on the P6.4-billion LRT Line 1 north extension project that will link the line to the EDSA-bound MRT started yesterday with soil testing conducted by project contractor DMCI-First Balfour consortium.

Robles said they are confident of completing the project in about three years or by May 2010.

“I’m pleased to announce that today, the actual construction work has started after the selection of the contractor for the civil works and other components of the project was done with the completion of a transparent bidding process,” he said. “Our target is for the commissioning of this phase by May 2010.”

Robles, along with other LRTA officials and engineers of the DMCI-First Balfour consortium, witnessed the initial drilling activities for the soil testing at a portion of EDSA near the Monumento Circle in Caloocan City where concrete pillars for the elevated aqueduct of the elevated rail line will be built.

Engineer Edilberto Palisoc, DMCI-First Balfour project manager, said the soil testing was done while the design and construction plan of the project was being finished.

DMCI-First Balfour was the winning bidder for the project’s Packages A and B, which involve the civil works for the railway and station construction of the project.

The P6.4-billion project, touted as the “Closing the Loop” project, will connect the LRT Line 1 and the MRT at the Monumento Station in Caloocan and the North Avenue Station in Quezon City through an entirely elevated railway spanning a 5.4-kilometer stretch of EDSA.

The project will include the construction of three rail stations at the Balintawak interchange, Roosevelt Avenue, and North Avenue, which include plans to develop a park-and-ride complex at one of the stations to enable private vehicle owners to park their cars and take the LRT.

“This is very timely. People are now turning to mass rail transport with fuel prices going up weekly. This is the government’s answer to rising fuel costs,” Robles said.

He said the extension project was expected to increase the average daily passenger volume for both LRT Lines 1 and 2, and the MRT, which government is planning to buy out from the Metro Rail Transit Corp.

Robles said passenger volume at LRT 1 and 2 was increasing steadily with more and more commuters taking mass transport as a result of increasing fares of jeepneys and buses, which are slower.

“Right now, our average ridership is 420,000 on weekdays. When I started here as LRTA chief in 2004, it was around 260,000 passengers a day,” Robles said.

He said LRT 1 and 2 are ready for an increase in passenger volume since they have maximum capacities of 600,000 passengers a day.

Ph Man

July 10th, 2008, 07:04 PM

on the other hand, i think this is not a wise move. if funds are needed to maintain MRT and LRT, then the idea of fare hire is ok with me, basta piso or P2 lang ha. our MRT and LRT fare for me are too cheap. not that i can afford to pay for more, but if that goes to the maintenance and improvement of the lines, then it's very much welcome for me.

there are some plausible ways to cut the operating costs of MRT and LRT lines. introduce the octopus ticket. then automate the ticketing system. this should be considered seriously.

last year, (for those who have heard this before, i hope you wouldn't mind hearing this again) i have been on a long queue for a ticket in MRT Magallanes. have to deal with one lady at the counter - who probably does not like her job at all. i ended up queueing at the wrong line. blame it to my poor vision perhaps. i wanted a stored value ticket. it's the other guy beside her who issues such. so i got no option but to get single journey ticket. on a haste, i forgot the change of my 100 peso payment. as i walked away she banged the glass window to call my attention. very unprofessional and insensitive imo. if i were her boss, i'd fire her right there. she cannot even propose a simple help for someone in need.

anyway...if we can reduce the human intervention in issuing ticket, like what is done with LRT2, then the fare hike may not be at all necessary. issue a more durable plastic card ticket for frequent commuters. the type which you only have to tap to a sensor. just my suggestions.

habagatcentral1

July 10th, 2008, 07:38 PM

last year, (for those who have heard this before, i hope you wouldn't mind hearing this again) i have been on a long queue for a ticket in MRT Magallanes. have to deal with one lady at the counter - who probably does not like her job at all. i ended up queueing at the wrong line. blame it to my poor vision perhaps. i wanted a stored value ticket. it's the other guy beside her who issues such. so i got no option but to get single journey ticket. on a haste, i forgot the change of my 100 peso payment. as i walked away she banged the glass window to call my attention. very unprofessional and insensitive imo. if i were her boss, i'd fire her right there. she cannot even propose a simple help for someone in need.

Ikaw parang di ka nasanay sa UP or any government-run companies. Is there such thing as customer service? :lol: :nocrook: :jk:

Anyway, ako I'm ok for a hike just for piso or two. And as what Lastimoso told, LRT is earning like P5 million a day I think. How about MRT?

Another one. is it me or is it that the G3 Yellow Line feels a lot spacier and bigger unlike her G1 Yellow Line and MRT counterparts?

One thing that i noticed is that MRT has so little space for its door that people crammed going inside or going outside. It has always been a struggle for people to get out of the train, especially crowded station-hubs like Cubao. The driver is forcing it to close while most of the passengers haven't got out yet. The commuters on the other hand are not courteous to unload the passengers of the train first before they can enter, as if they are always on the rush to sit (even if there are no seats available). No wonder why no one wants to stay "in-between" the doors and instead cram themselves near the door.

Ph Man

July 10th, 2008, 08:51 PM

oboi

July 10th, 2008, 09:00 PM

Another thing with the MRT, maraming pasahero ang nagpupumilit pa rin na makasakay kahit na puno na ang tren kulang na lang magkakastampede. :ohno:

Ewan ko ngayon siguro mas sobra pa ang siksikan ng mga pasahero dahil sa taas ng petrolyo. Last week of June pa ang huli kong sakay ng MRT.

habagatcentral1

July 11th, 2008, 12:57 AM

^^ doors are too narrow plus there are too of them, that's why. and train body (fuselage?) is not too wide to accomodate the high traffic of the commuting public.

government na ba ang MRT berns? hindi ba siya under BOT contract pa rin? anyway, gov't nga pala ang LRTA.

Although BOT, its still GOCC.

Another thing with the MRT, maraming pasahero ang nagpupumilit pa rin na makasakay kahit na puno na ang tren kulang na lang magkakastampede. :ohno:

Ewan ko ngayon siguro mas sobra pa ang siksikan ng mga pasahero dahil sa taas ng petrolyo. Last week of June pa ang huli kong sakay ng MRT.

Yup. Avoid rush hours or be squeezed to death. In Tokyo it is the "pushing guards who do the pushing. In Manila, let the passengers do it by themselves. :D

queetz@home

July 11th, 2008, 02:20 AM

i've never encountered anyone saying that using the mrt or lrt are mostly lower class. Most people i know who use the LRT would use it because it was convenient. Others use it now because of the high prices of petroleum products (unleaded is already at 61 pesos). My friends use it when they go to watch the UAAP games. I've never noticed that perception before. Maybe its just the crowd I'm with. But come to think of it many of my friends are in the B to A economic classes but they still use the LRT and the MRT.

That's the beauty of rail based transit. It doesn't have the social stigma of being a lower class "loser cruiser". And it seems that is the same case even in extremely class sensitive societies such as what we have in the Philippines. Even some of my wealthier and normally snobby relatives don't see the MRT or LRT lines as a poor man's vehicle, even park their expensive cars in Edsa Shangrila so they can take the train to Makati City for work or to Quiapo for cheap DVDs...

[B][SIZE="4"]

The new trains, Blancaflor said, will replace 20 old trains that are servicing MRT3 trips from North Avenue-Taft Avenue and vice-versa.

Oh c'mon! No trainset being used in the MRT3 line can't possibly be that old and need replacing! Trains are built to last long even in the toughest of conditions, 40 years on average although some older ones are still in service.

kratos1211

July 11th, 2008, 02:46 AM

MRT in danger of overloading – DOTC

PhilStar
Friday, July 11, 2008

With trains filled to more than maximum capacity, especially during rush hours on weekdays, overloading and wear and tear have caused serious concerns regarding the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

MRT general manager Roberto Lastimoso said that the “extremely high number of passengers” at the EDSA rail line has exceeded the maximum capacity of trains at peak hours.

Lastimoso said that with rising bus and jeepney fares in Metro Manila and the traffic snarls on EDSA, the MRT has been seeing a continued increase in the number of passengers in the past weeks.

“We’re going over the maximum capacity, and it’s unbelievable during Fridays and paydays,” he said.

To make up for the strain on the trains, Lastimoso said that the management is focusing on thorough rolling stock inspections for wear and tear and maintenance.

“We’re giving high priority to maintenance. We’re closely checking our maintenance contractor to ensure that our trains are being inspected and given the necessary preventive maintenance and repairs, if needed,” he said.

He said he is also pushing vigorously for the buyout of the build-operate-transfer contract of the MRT Corp. (MRTC) by the government so that a capacity expansion can be conducted, such as the one made by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) on the LRT Line 1 from Baclaran in Parañaque to Monumento in Caloocan.

He explained that the current MRT operated by the MRTC is not inclined to undertake any capacity expansion during their 25-year contract.

In a buyout, the government could undertake a capacity expansion, Lastimoso said. — Rainier Allan Ronda

diz

July 11th, 2008, 02:49 AM

yay new trains!

habagatcentral1

July 11th, 2008, 03:15 AM

MRT in danger of overloading – DOTC

“We’re going over the maximum capacity, and it’s unbelievable during Fridays and paydays,” he said.

I'll take a shot later.

One thing that as passenger diminishes, the rest of the trains gradually take a time off for the day...binabawasan na nila ang trains in service since pabawas na rin ang pasahero. One unique thing about Friday nights are (especially at around 8-9pm) passengers still flock Araneta Center Cubao (and probably North Avenue due to Trinoma & The Block) at that time yet the waiting time has increased sometimes to as much as 10-15 minutes. When the train arrives at Cubao from North EDSA, its already jam-packed...at that time. And there are still numerous passengers waiting behind you who will wait longer...And its 9PM na.

jefflacs

July 11th, 2008, 04:09 AM

kratos1211

July 11th, 2008, 07:21 AM

MRT3 wants new trains for better service (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=124552)

The new trains, Blancaflor said, will replace 20 old trains that are servicing MRT3 trips from North Avenue-Taft Avenue and vice-versa.

Mali nanaman siguro ang reporter . I think it meant adding more new trains to the 20 3-car train to become 4 or 5 car train, not replace them.

habagatcentral1

July 11th, 2008, 07:21 AM

^^ Still, I hope they would replace the old trains with bigger capacity and wider door trains instead. :D

demented_pigeon

July 11th, 2008, 07:40 AM

so hindi ka nakikihalubilo sa mga masa.

hmmm... ummm saang lupalop ng mundo mo nakuha yung ganung conclusion. sabi ko, wala akong kilalang atenista na nagsasabing pangmasa lang ang MRT o LRT.

Nakikihalubilo ako sa masa araw araw at sa Mendiola ako nagaaral. marami sa kaibigan ko ay pawang iskolar sa mga paaralan nila.

sa susunod, ayusin mo conclusions mo.:ohno:

brownman

July 11th, 2008, 04:01 PM

Mali nanaman siguro ang reporter . I think it meant adding more new trains to the 20 3-car train to become 4 or 5 car train, not replace them.

So meaning the length of the train is not the same with the stations. Kasi 3-car train then they're planning to add 1 or 2 cars to the current one. If they do that ibig sabihin may expansion pa.

habagatcentral1

July 11th, 2008, 06:12 PM

One Fine Friday Afternoon........ :D

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/27/P7113392.JPG?et=9tbGmsyd3Gx%2B2A1WzMkunQ&nmid=97827103
NorthBound (in between Buendia and Guadalupe Stations pa lang yan) :D

leechtat

July 11th, 2008, 06:46 PM

^^ kawawa naman sila manong, napicturan na may jabar pa.. :lol: :rofl: haggard..

kratos1211

July 11th, 2008, 07:11 PM

ano? before yearend or 3 years to implement :?:
They should have anticipated this 5 years ago, with the LRT1 extension by 2010 and MRT7 by 2012, more than 1 million+ passengers capacity ang dapat. :wallbash:

More MRT coaches coming

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Half a million passengers a day are taking the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) following the latest fare hikes for jeepneys and buses, and the number is expected to surge up to a million very soon.

Before yearend, the MRT hopes to deploy four coaches capable of transporting from 700,000 to one million passengers a day.

But plans to purchase 73 more coaches could take up to three years to implement.

Speaking to reporters at the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City, MRT general manager Roberto Lastimoso said as of Thursday the daily volume of train passengers has reached 530,000, which is 200,000 over the daily volume in the past years.

“We are expecting the number to rise to 700,000 or even one million passengers a day,” he said.

The retired Philippine National Police chief said the government has decided to buy an additional 73 coaches to meet the rising number of passengers.

However, Lastimoso said buying a train entails a huge amount of money and takes a long time.

“One train includes three cars that each cost $3 million,” he said. “It’s very costly.”

Lastimoso said the manufacture of a train can take as long as three years.

“So we have to decide fast if we want to buy the trains,” he said.

“From the time you place the order, it will take them three years to deliver to you the first prototype.”

Lastimoso said they have extended MRT services by one hour to accommodate more passengers, particularly along the North Edsa station, which usually registers at least 10,000 to 20,000 commuters, especially on Mondays and paydays.

“We have doubled our security measures by deploying more security guards, and we will also install close circuit television cameras in various stations,” he said.

Lastimoso said the government is now negotiating with the owners of the train facility to buy back their equity at current prices so the government can have full control of the mass transport system.

At present the government subsidizes the operations of the MRT with an average of P40 per passenger, who only pays P15 from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Edsa in Quezon City, he added.

However, Lastimoso said the MRT, being a mass transport system, will not hike its fares to help commuters cope with the current economic crisis.

“The government subsidy will continue, and we will try our best to keep the MRT a safe and efficient mode of transport in the metropolis,” he said. – Perseus Echeminada, Rainier Allan Ronda

habagatcentral1

July 11th, 2008, 07:14 PM

^^ Well, knowing Government procurement, it would take years...so tiis tiis muna sa MRT. :cry:

kratos1211

July 11th, 2008, 07:26 PM

DOTC sees eventual phase-out of buses, jeepneys in Metro Manila:okay:
PhilStar
By Perseus Echeminada
Saturday, July 12, 2008

The start of the construction of the mass transit railway system that will link the Light Railway Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) along EDSA will lead to the eventual phase-out of buses and jeepneys in Metro Manila, a top official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said yesterday.

“Buses and jeepneys will voluntarily leave Metro streets once we complete the rail system,” DOTC Undersecretary for railway services Guiling Mamondong said.

Mamondong explained the MRT project linking the North EDSA station in Quezon City to Monumento in Caloocan City would complete the loop that would force public utility vehicles, particularly buses, out of EDSA.

He said the loop railway system is expected to be complete in 12 months that would link Caloocan, Quezon City, Makati, Manila, and Pasay City into one whole mass transit system.

“Once the link up is complete, passengers will ignore buses and they will (instead) take the train which is cheaper and faster,” Mamondong said.

He said this early, many buses plying the EDSA route are often empty, even during rush hours due to intense competition and the fact more commuters are choosing to take the MRT to reach their destination faster.

Mamondong added the increasing prices of fuel would force other bus companies to look for alternate routes or cease their operations to avoid more losses.

Aside from the EDSA link, a new rail system would be constructed from North EDSA to Bulacan, passing through Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

The new train system, MRT 7, will have an underground facility from the central station in North EDSA passing the Quezon Memorial Circle and the length of Commonwealth Avenue.

Mamondong said MRT 7 would service commuters at Fairview in Quezon City up to the boundary of Bulacan.

Another mass transit rail system would be constructed from North EDSA traversing Quezon Avenue to link up with the LRT 1 Central station in Manila.

“Mass transit will not only address the problem of high fares it will also result in the decongestion of traffic and clean air because the trains will be running on electric power,” Mamondong pointed out.

crappypants

July 11th, 2008, 08:17 PM

hmmm... ummm saang lupalop ng mundo mo nakuha yung ganung conclusion. sabi ko, wala akong kilalang atenista na nagsasabing pangmasa lang ang MRT o LRT.

Nakikihalubilo ako sa masa araw araw at sa Mendiola ako nagaaral. marami sa kaibigan ko ay pawang iskolar sa mga paaralan nila.

sa susunod, ayusin mo conclusions mo.:ohno:
aye aye sir. :master:

IndioBravo

July 11th, 2008, 08:32 PM

jefflacs

July 11th, 2008, 08:42 PM

Juan Pilgrim

July 11th, 2008, 11:01 PM

I hope this will all materialize soon.

habagatcentral1

July 12th, 2008, 01:14 AM

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/22/P7113387.JPG?et=K4BVeEtp3mCHgddzL7zoqA&nmid=97827103

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/25/P7113390.JPG?et=C6JNItj7Pl43c%2Budm5%2CjQQ&nmid=97827103

queetz@home

July 12th, 2008, 02:01 AM

IMO buses are essential for a competent transport system.If we could privatize them have the drivers as regular monthly salaried ones.Forget the boundary system.Then I bet we'll have catched up w/the likes of Singapore,Thailand,Malaysia etc.etc.For the ordinary working class pinoys like me.:)

Actually, the bus lines in Metro Manila are privatized which is the real problem. I think you are referring to making bus transit publicly run and organized by a government transit agency, just like in other parts of the world.

Yes they have a role and once the backbone of the Metro Manila public transportation system is built, namely the rail lines, the buses should act as a feeder system to those lines as oppose to a competitor. So those buses in EDSA should go to the routes not serviced and could never be serviced by the rail lines and bring the passengers to the train station so we can have a speedier and more efficient movement of people across the Metropolis.

kaelthas18

July 12th, 2008, 02:12 AM

ung proposed dati na mrt 4 un sana ang mauuna after ng lrt2 eh.. kung hndi lang tumutol si atienza. kasi dadaan ung line sa espaÑa.. didilim daw parang aurora and rizal avenue.. pero sayang , magandang project din kasi ito . Ang pagka alam ko from Lerma sa may Bilibid then Espana,Q.avenue,circle,comonwealth up to Fairview talaga ang original project, pero mukang malaki dw gagastusin kaya mrt 7 ang other option nla, from north avenue-ellictical-commonwealth to caloocan north na..

kaelthas18

July 12th, 2008, 02:16 AM

naaawa ako sa mga trains ng mrt3.. grabe sa umaga, and sa gabi, grabe sa cubao, parang mob mga tao, kulang nlng sirain ang pinto ng mga tren eh. lalo na ung mga ordinary masa..haha,tulak lang ng tulak,

anyway,i hope dagdagan ng mrt ang kanilang rolling stock fleet.. kahit gawin lang nla 4 car train ang current na 3-car train.. tpos mag add pa sila ..

mabilis ang mrt. pero bitin naman mga tren, useless din,kasi di maacomodate lahat ng tao na nasa platform, ang capacity ng station platform eh pang 4-car train samantala 3car train lang ang mga ginagamit, nakakatawa db?

kaelthas18

July 12th, 2008, 02:19 AM

ung friend ko taga dmci civil... sbi nya sinusurvey na nila ung ddaraanan ng extension ng lrt 1 north,, by the way lrt 1 ang ieextend to sm north at hndi mrt3..

ponso

July 12th, 2008, 02:34 AM

Hi Bernie,

Actually, di yan nalalayo sa London Underground. At least may airconditioning sa MRT and LRT. Sa LU, wala ni isang tren ang may aircon, so summer na dito so London kaya ang Underground, nasa ilalim na nga ng lupa, ang dilim at halos 35 degrees ang temperature. Tsaka yung mga taga UK di yata alam ang deodorant o kaya shower man lang!

I use LU from Waterloo to Bank via the Waterloo&City Line every day. Overland suburban train (parang Northrail) na meron mahinang aircon ang sakay ko for 20 minutes then lipat sa LU, one station lang, papuntang trabaho araw-araw. Sana magawa na lahat niyang planong tren para nga ma experience naman ng Pinas ang world class na public transport.

One Fine Friday Afternoon........ :D

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/27/P7113392.JPG?et=9tbGmsyd3Gx%2B2A1WzMkunQ&nmid=97827103
NorthBound (in between Buendia and Guadalupe Stations pa lang yan) :D

metrosuburban

July 12th, 2008, 03:33 AM

mr.suroy

July 12th, 2008, 04:48 AM

regular commuter ako dati sa mrt 3 dati, at minsan sumasakay din ako ng lrt 1 at 2 pag may dinadalaw ako sa manila proper. noong 2002-2005 yun. medyo maluwag pa ang mga train noon, at sa mga rush hour lang talaga napupuno. bumababa ang karamihan sa cubao station pag northbound at ayala station pag southbound. wala pa ngang seclusion para sa mga babae(meron na sa lrt 1 noon). pero sa current situation ngayon na 500k person ang ridership daily ng mrt 3, asa pa tayo na makakaupo? ganun? hehe..

habagatcentral1

July 12th, 2008, 08:12 AM

Hi Bernie,

Actually, di yan nalalayo sa London Underground. At least may airconditioning sa MRT and LRT. Sa LU, wala ni isang tren ang may aircon, so summer na dito so London kaya ang Underground, nasa ilalim na nga ng lupa, ang dilim at halos 35 degrees ang temperature. Tsaka yung mga taga UK di yata alam ang deodorant o kaya shower man lang!

I use LU from Waterloo to Bank via the Waterloo&City Line every day. Overland suburban train (parang Northrail) na meron mahinang aircon ang sakay ko for 20 minutes then lipat sa LU, one station lang, papuntang trabaho araw-araw. Sana magawa na lahat niyang planong tren para nga ma experience naman ng Pinas ang world class na public transport.

I see, so ganyan pala sa Tube. Anyway, at least nasa temperate kayo na klima. Dito extreme heat and extreme rain, hehe!! :D

Anyway, has anyone here experienced riding the old LRT Yellow Line during the time that it has no air-conditioning whatsoever? I think it was late 90's and early 200s when that happened.

serves them right, that's what you all get for paying the cheapest train fare in the world! :)

Is it really that cheap? Wow! P15 is from North to South. How much does an average train fare would cost lets say here in the ASEAN region? Or in Africa?

le Reine

July 12th, 2008, 08:14 AM

Is it really that cheap? Wow! P15 is from North to South. How much does an average train fare would cost lets say here in the ASEAN region? Or in Africa?hello, bernie, obvious ba na mura siya. :lol:

habagatcentral1

July 12th, 2008, 09:17 AM

^^ Malay mo may mas mura sa Africa or what di ba? :lol:

Ph Man

July 12th, 2008, 09:44 AM

^^ it's definitely cheaper than SG or HK. pero sobrang comfy naman on those countries ang mag tren. imagine having a link of the airport and the main CBD. it's like 30 minutes, nasa bahay ka na, kung ang bahay mo ay apartment sa city.

IMO buses are essential for a competent transport system.If we could privatize them have the drivers as regular monthly salaried ones.Forget the boundary system.Then I bet we'll have catched up w/the likes of Singapore,Thailand,Malaysia etc.etc.For the ordinary working class pinoys like me.:)

they are private already. i actually want them be owned by the government, pay the drivers on daily or monthly basis, not by boundary system as you said.

in doing this, buses need not queue at waiting stations just to fill up the whole bus, at may standing ovations pa. kasi wala silang masyadong KPI na iisipin. they only need to carry the passengers to their expected destinations, walang agawan/competition among buses. pangarap ko lang naman yun sa Pilipinas. or we can have sole operator of all buses metrowide or let's say for a single route. then another operator for the other. as long as the element of competition is not there, i guess we commuters will be better off that way.

IndioBravo

July 12th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Govt. propaganda says that more trains are coming in 1-2 years,that means 4-5 years.So the masses like me will continue to be like "pinitpit" in our trains.:)

habagatcentral1

July 12th, 2008, 01:46 PM

I was wondering why is it that the southern extension of LRT 1 Yellow Line hasn't updated?

shamhoy

July 12th, 2008, 02:15 PM

The MRT admin should consider removing the seats to accomodate more people while waiting for the new trains to arrive. The spaces vacated by the seats could fit in 20-30 more people on one side alone. Besides, I dont think regular commuters will complain with this setup. It is far more appealing to stand for 30 minutes in a moving train than wait at the platforms for eternity. Of course, they need to put in additional safety handrails for commuters to cling to. The first coach could keep a few seats but it must be reserved only for the sick, pregnant, small kids and elderly.

Riding the MRT nowadays is terrible. What I do instead is to wake up early and take the bus to work. I really couldnt stand sweating profusely even before stepping into the comforts of office. Im just fortunate that work isnt that far so the cost difference is just minimal.

habagatcentral1

July 12th, 2008, 05:00 PM

Just had a talk with the Cubao Station manager (kasi naginquire din ako tungkol dun sa Flash Pass) at sabi nya ito:

"There have been several attempts to jack up the fare of MRT but they were never allowed by the 'higher authority'."

"The reason why MRT is always jam-packed is because of its cheap fares as compared to bus. Also it will bring you faster to your destination."

IndioBravo

July 12th, 2008, 07:23 PM

WawaY[625]

July 12th, 2008, 07:29 PM

Is it really that cheap? Wow! P15 is from North to South. How much does an average train fare would cost lets say here in the ASEAN region? Or in Africa?

dito sa SG, if im not mistaken, nasa S$.70 ang cheapest (1 to 3 stations ata) basta ako i spend S$1.44 per trip from our house to my workplace (around 30 minutes na byahe yan)

philip_v

July 12th, 2008, 08:04 PM

Any news about Metropass? Will the TxtRide be available at all the stations?

Sky Harbor

July 12th, 2008, 08:29 PM

Is it really that cheap? Wow! P15 is from North to South. How much does an average train fare would cost lets say here in the ASEAN region? Or in Africa?

The LRT/MRT is known for being the cheapest rapid transit system in Southeast Asia, if not all of Asia. The LRTA issued a press release on this in 2003. A comparison of rapid transit fares at 2003 prices:

-Taipei MRT: P75
-Tokyo Metro: P57
-Singapore MRT: P35
-Rapid KL: P29
-Manila LRT/MRT: P12

As far as I know, this would still be true up to today.

Alitaptap

July 13th, 2008, 12:02 AM

AlJazeera News on Manila's LRT/MRT trains.

5EyxDH8MLms

habagatcentral1

July 13th, 2008, 03:20 AM

^^Fares are like that,because our govt. subsidizes for it.Meaning our taxes makes the fares reasonably cheap.Don't know if thats good or bad.:)The govt. really owe us big time in terms of better service,because they get the money to pay for this projects from us,the tax paying public!
Yup. But again, they need to improve now that the strain for more trains is getting higher.

Any news about Metropass? Will the TxtRide be available at all the stations?

So far, only the MRT-LRT FlashPass is available. P250 per week unlimited rides to all LRT systems and the MRT.

If you want to avail, just go to the station managers at the MRT stations of Taft, Shaw and Cubao.

The LRT/MRT is known for being the cheapest rapid transit system in Southeast Asia, if not all of Asia. The LRTA issued a press release on this in 2003. A comparison of rapid transit fares at 2003 prices:

-Taipei MRT: P75
-Tokyo Metro: P57
-Singapore MRT: P35
-Rapid KL: P29
-Manila LRT/MRT: P12

As far as I know, this would still be true up to today.

Wow! :eek: Mura nga!
And I think MRT is the cheapest. Just have to imagine, spending at least P15 all the way to North Avenue from Taft Avenue....that's a lot of distance.

AlJazeera News on Manila's LRT/MRT trains.

5EyxDH8MLms

Saan MRT station yung sa bandang huli sa news? Grabe! I know Cubao and Taft but not that worse! :eek:

shamhoy

July 13th, 2008, 03:23 AM

^^
what station is that? Grabe tao ah.

Si Ed Picson ba yung ini-interview dyan sa video? :)

diz

July 13th, 2008, 04:42 AM

They better start them constructions

kaelthas18

July 13th, 2008, 04:45 AM

^^
what station is that? Grabe tao ah.

North ave station (the north terminal)... the most crowded station tuwing umaga... kahit 7 am plang sa baba ka pa dyan puno na paakyat.. kahit tumayo ka lang matutulak ka papasok.hahaha

leechtat

July 13th, 2008, 04:57 AM

^^ ay oo. i couldn't agree more.. buti na lang magaling ako sumingit..

kaelthas18

July 13th, 2008, 06:04 AM

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/kaelthas18/mrt.jpg

HANG IN THERE After getting on a queue that snakes from here to eternity, riders packed the overhead Metro Rail Transit carriage from Timog Avenue in Quezon City to Magallanes Village in Makati City, back to back, shoulder to shoulder, face to face, but hopefully, not lips to lips. JOAN BONDOC

brownman

July 13th, 2008, 06:12 AM

The LRT/MRT is known for being the cheapest rapid transit system in Southeast Asia, if not all of Asia. The LRTA issued a press release on this in 2003. A comparison of rapid transit fares at 2003 prices:

-Taipei MRT: P75
-Tokyo Metro: P57
-Singapore MRT: P35
-Rapid KL: P29
-Manila LRT/MRT: P12

As far as I know, this would still be true up to today.

The current minimum fare of the metro system in SG is S$0.70. So that's roughly around Php23 as of the moment.

And I'm seeing a similar trend of people opting for trains rather than using their own cars or via other modes of public transpo in SG and PI. The reason for one is the oil price hike, and the other for SG's case, is massive ERP (Electronic Road Pricing) costs especially in the CBD area. Both systems have already added train services to cater the needs of the growing commuters specifically during rush hours.

kaelthas18

July 13th, 2008, 06:23 AM

ang mura nga ng fare..

RonnieR

July 13th, 2008, 06:42 AM

^^ No, premium gas prices in Malaysia and Indonesia are cheaper....they are selling the 95 octane at P30 to P35 per liter (equivalent in pesos). Their prices are subsidized by the government while ours are based on free market prices.

Sky Harbor

July 13th, 2008, 07:07 AM

^^ It is frequently said that Filipinos are the only people in Southeast Asia who pay gasoline at the free-market price. All other Southeast Asian countries subsidize the cost of gasoline in one way or another. Following that logic, gasoline prices in the Philippines would be the highest in Southeast Asia, if I'm not mistaken.

angelneo

July 13th, 2008, 07:30 AM

I think oil prices are still cheaper in the Philippines.
Malaysia has it's own developed oil resources so it's easy to say that it is really cheaper there. But in Singapore, oil prices are higher compared to the Philippines.

Singapore (FX 1 S$ = 32-33 PHP)
Gasoline: S$ 2.236 = PHP 71.5
Diesel: S$ 1.933 = PHP 61.8

Sky Harbor

July 13th, 2008, 08:20 AM

RonnieR

July 13th, 2008, 08:29 AM

^^ If I were to put it in terms of purchasing power, Singaporeans can afford gasoline at that price given their higher incomes and standards of living. But for Filipinos, prices like that will surely generate strike action from north to south.

Fuel prices in Singapore have always been higher than the Philippines even before the price hike/oil crisis.

Despite the recent price hikes in Malaysia at 40% and Indonesia 30 to 35%, their prices are still lower compared to ours.

I don't think the Filipinos would resort to extreme violent actions because of high prices in fuel. The general population is aware that this problem is global and news of strikes in other countries due to oil crisis are fairly reported on prime news. So, on the consciousness of Filipinos, the Philippines is not alone to this global problem.

angelneo

July 13th, 2008, 08:30 AM

you are right, if we look at it in terms of purchasing power. but that is a different topic.

the info that i shared is to state that ours is still cheaper.
it is not the highest in South East Asia.

RonnieR

July 13th, 2008, 08:44 AM

EDSA commuter woes
HIDDEN AGENDA By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes
Sunday, July 13, 2008

The Department of Transportation and Communications’ response to the latest developments in urban travel appeared way off the mark.

The latest news was that EDSA MRT III is bursting at the seams. With the pump price of unleaded gasoline breaching the P60-per-liter mark, more motorists appear to have decided to leave their cars in their garage and take the next best commute option – the light rail transit system. Since bulk of the car-owning sector of the metropolitan work force appear to be Makati and Ortigas-center bound, the EDSA MRT III is taking in most of Metro Manila’s nouveau commuters.

Transportation officials say the country’s busiest light rail line has to absorb an increase of some five percent in EDSA MRT III ridership over the past few weeks. The increase is significant because, according to the same officials, the line has reached its maximum daily ridership level at 470,000 to 480,000 passengers per day.

Why not increase the number of trains plying the EDSA line 3? There are supposed to be 73 coaches plying the EDSA MRT III’s 16-kilometer route. If the five percent increase in daily ridership has pushed the system into the brink of bursting, why not a corresponding five percent increase in the number of coaches just to absorb the nouveau commuters? Five percent of 73 would mean an additional three or four coaches.

Our math may be simplistic. But our point is similarly simple: just give the EDSA commuters more trains in the EDSA MRT III line. Not increased fares as some would suggest.

Now where do we get the money to buy new coaches? Whatever happened to the planned buy-out by the government of the EDSA MRT III? The buy-out and an accompanying refinancing of the obligation is supposed to generate $480 million in savings that can be used to buy more trains and extend the line to Monumento.

We share the hope that DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza has not forgotten to push President Arroyo’s initiatives on this.

More than ever, those trains are needed by the nearly half a million Filipinos travelling along EDSA.

kaelthas18

July 13th, 2008, 10:02 AM

tama,dagdagan nlng ang tren,or habaan ang mga tren, like lrt line 1 did...

kaelthas18

July 13th, 2008, 10:05 AM

Now where do we get the money to buy new coaches?

hmmm.. sana ung deal sa north rail na 11billion dito nlang napunta, and upgrading existing stations and additional rolling stocks.. sayang talaga.. 2003 pa ata ung deal ng northrail.til now not a single kilometer ang nagagawa na may rails and ballast...
hndi siguro na foresee ng dotc un, sa tingin ko may hidden agenda din ung northrail kasi taga patungong pampanga which is "baluarte ni arroyo".. till now wla pa din. sbi nla dati 2008 tpos na ang malolos - caloocan line,wla pa din ngyari..

Sky Harbor

July 13th, 2008, 10:10 AM

^^ I really wonder what happened to those Vienna tram coaches that were supposed to go to MRT-3.

kaelthas18

July 13th, 2008, 10:11 AM

wla napabayaan na

kaelthas18

July 13th, 2008, 10:13 AM

^^ I really wonder what happened to those Vienna tram coaches that were supposed to go to MRT-3.

aba, oo nga.. ung mga ubahn trains...
baka kasi iba inaatupag ni mendoza kaya he forgot na.. haha, abala dati kasi sa zTe.. hehhe,hndi nya naforsee ang oil price increase..

kaelthas18

July 13th, 2008, 10:19 AM

A country without a vision
BABE’S EYE VIEW By Babe Romualdez
Sunday, July 13, 2008

Despite the announcement by oil companies of a P1 rollback on the price of gasoline, people will continue to feel the pinch with fuel costs expected to hit $200 per barrel by yearend. The noticeably diminished volume of vehicles in EDSA plus jam-packed LRT and MRT stations are clear proof that more people are being forced to take public transport. On one hand, this is encouraging since this means lesser traffic and pollution, but the downside is the discomfort endured by commuters squeezed like sardines inside the stuffy cars, with some Filipinos thinking they’re Italians pinching the behind of female passengers, and pickpockets plying their trade. The overflowing number of people taking the trains is getting officials worried due to the possibility of the cars collapsing. No doubt the LRT/MRT are more viable for many people, but as MRT general manager Bobby Lastimoso disclosed, the trains can only take so much having reached critical mass.

The global food and fuel crisis are affecting everyone â€‘ the rich, the middle class but most especially the poor whose resentment is simmering at the unabated surge in prices. Food and transportation are two of the most basic needs of people. If nothing is done to ease the situation, this might spark social unrest. While government is taking measures to help people cope, it seems they’re more inclined to go for short-term solutions. It was rather surprising for Ed Ermita to say this is “not the time to do long-range planning,” batting for the implementation of stopgap measures. While he was simply echoing Malacañang’s directive to “respond to the need of the moment,” it is precisely this attitude that has gotten us into this kind of situation. The trouble with us Filipinos is we have always been reactive not proactive, always scrambling for action only when a situation becomes critical.

It’s probably no coincidence that after seven long years, they’re now rushing the long-overdue 20-kilometer, $1.23 billion MRT-7 project that spans from West Avenue to Monumento extending all the way to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan. The network can reportedly service two million commuters and hopefully it will be ready before the end of Gloria’s term in 2010.

Ironically, the Philippines built the first ever mass transport system in Southeast Asia, even ahead of Singapore. But limited foresight plus political and legal impediments derailed the implementation of many projects that could have fast-tracked this country’s development. Early this year, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong announced their key focus for 2008 would be the improvement of their public transport system to encourage more Singaporeans to take the bus or train instead of driving cars. A major factor is the anticipated increase in Singapore’s population from 4.3 million to 6.5 million.

Kuala Lumpur drafted “Plan 2020” where 11 new and extension rail lines will be built precisely to meet the projected 600,000 population increase in the city. Macau is also intensifying efforts to improve its rail system after several setbacks since 2002, with plans to develop a new elevated light rail system to transport over 100,000 people a day. But as one Malaysian official said, it is passive to just increase the number of buses or expand train networks in proportion to the population. Rather, world class cities should consider all aspects of public transport with clear guidelines made to manage this on a long-term basis. I repeat, on a “long-term basis.”

We have known for a long time that we have a very high population growth rate. In five years there will be 100 million Filipinos â€‘ and this future population surge is something we have to take into account especially in light of the current global crisis with the possibility of people fighting for limited food and resources.

The other day, there was a news item about Isabelans going back to using the kalesa and carabao due to zooming fuel costs. People can take leisurely kalesa rides in rural areas since the pace is more laidback and pollution is not as bad as in the city, but farmers reverting to ancient farming techniques at this time is rather dismal. Aside from transportation, a visionary approach should be applied to other critical areas for this country to move ahead and be at par with the rest of the world. In this day and age where technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, a country without vision will be left out in the cold â€‘ and the Philippines will freeze to stagnation unless it gets its act together. The future hinges a lot on internet technology and progress can be accelerated if the rest of the country has connectivity. The national broadband deal would have been the answer but it has been hounded by controversy.

And now you have Romulo Neri being appointed as SSS president, obviously some kind of reward for his loyalty â€‘ an act for which I can’t blame GMA. After all, that’s the way it is â€‘ the president has the prerogative to appoint or fire Cabinet members. But instead of concentrating on long-term solutions for the many problems we have, the great politicos in this country are typically focusing more on why so-and-so is being appointed.

Countries suffering the most during times of global crisis are the ones that lack vision and are bogged down by politics. It’s probably to GMA’s credit that whatever people say about her, she’s determined to do what she thinks is the best option to get the job done. At the end of the day, a country without a vision is bound to go into perdition.

metrosuburban

July 13th, 2008, 01:31 PM

^^ no vision at all...

kratos1211

July 13th, 2008, 02:33 PM

Railway projects seen to propel RP to first world status

Positive News Media
By Casiano A. Navarro
MANILA, July 14 (PNA Newsfeature) -- Here are good news for the commuters and some that may not be so good for the bus and jeepney operators.

First, the good news. Starting on Monday, train commuters may begin traveling as early as 5 o'clock in the morning, or, half an hour earlier than their current schedule, senior railways sector officials revealed on Friday.

"By then, train coaches are not yet congested and getting to work while still fresh, would not be a problem for the commuters," said DOTC Assistant Secretary Roberto T. Lastimoso, general manager of the MRT-3.

However, the MRT-3 has yet to announce if there are changes on its last trip schedules.

Now, still a good news for commuters, but certainly, it may not be so good for the bus and jeepney operators. The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) is determined to break the grounds soon, to give way to the commencement of the construction of new railway lines and extension for existing ones.

As a consequence, bus and jeepney operators may soon face the prospect of getting decimated, with some of them getting relocated to mere service routes, in stead of plying the entire stretch of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, from Grace Parce, Caloocan City to Baclaran, Paranaque City.

Within the watch of President Arroyo, the DOTC said it will carry out the construction of the extension of the LRT-1 line from Baclaran to Bacoor and eventually to Dasmarinas, Cavite.

In effect, most, if not all of the buses will get naturally phased out of the routes they are currently servicing.

At the regular weekly news forum Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel, in Quezon City, DOTC Undersecretary (for railways services) Guiling Mamondion said that "I regret to say that they (the buses) get phased out naturally" when the mass transit system being built by the government gets set in place.

He revealed that MRT-7, which will run from North EDSA to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and the MRT-3 extension to LRT-1 will be started in the next few weeks and completed by 2010.

In fact, he said, boring operations and soil density tests have been started and the equipments are due to roll in in the next few days, to the portion of EDSA that has remained unconnected by rail.

On the other hand, Lastimoso said that the new MRT-3 schedule is meant to enable both office and factory workers and the students to get to their respective destinations as early as they might want.

Besides, he said, this move is also one way of easing the pressure generated upon the train stations by the heavy volume of passenger traffic which has been noticed to have heightened since the price of fossil fuel started to skyrocket and is aggravated by the recent fare hike by buses and jeepney.

As the passenger volume continue to swell in the various train stations, Lastimoso said the MRT-3 has started preparations for the installation of close circuit television cameras in strategic locations in all of their stations, as one of the many security measures they have adopted.

To speed up the ticketing system at all stations, the MRT-3 is also acquiring automatic ticket vending machines and other gadgets that could facilitate the movement of passengers and merchandise.

Meanwhile, Usec Mamondiong disclosed that massive preparations are afoot on the ground breaking for the Mindanao Railways System (MRS), the first mass transport system ever to be conceptualized for southern Philippines.

When completed, the MRS, which is initially be started at its proposed Iligan City - Cagayan de Oro line, is seen to speed up the movement of passengers and cargoes. This project is also programmed to get to as far as Zamboanga City to the west and Davao City and General Santos City to the south.

Mamondiong noted that the serious efforts to rehabilitate the Philippines National Railways lines to the north and to the Bicol region are being undertaken.

In Panay island, he said, preparations are afoot for the start of rehabilitation and improvement efforts on the island's existing railways system, in a bid to attain swift movement of agricultural and fisheries cargoes between the countrysides and the trading centers.

"By the time President Arroyo steps down at the end of her watch, we have no doubt that the Philippines' railways system is satisfactorily rehabilitated and the country is well on its way towards attaining first world status," Mamondiong said. (PNA Newsfeature)

habagatcentral1

July 13th, 2008, 02:36 PM

^^ Hay, they have to do it....as in the populace needs it badly.

filcan

July 13th, 2008, 02:42 PM

new airports...new railways...were definitely on our way to first world status :okay:

jvl

July 13th, 2008, 07:05 PM

Philippine government plans eco-friendly alternatives for mass transit
By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
Gulf News
Published: July 12, 2008, 23:18

Manila: While the increasing cost of fuel is seen as a bane by individual motorists, advocates of mass transport see this as an opportunity to promote less polluting alternatives.

The government plans to step up improvements to the train system in Metro Manila in a bid to lessen commuter's dependence on buses and minibuses and consequently improve air quality in the mega city.

"Buses and jeepneys [minibuses] will leave Metro streets on their own once we complete the rail system," transportation undersecretary for railway services Guiling Mamondong said.
Buses and jeepneys had been regarded as a chief source of pollution in Metro Manila with their internal combustion engines that use high sulphur content diesel.

A slew of train projects have been planned for Metro Manila, a mega city of more than six million inhabitants which is already groaning under the weight of an ever-increasing population and the attendant effects of blight.

On the immediate horizon, the government wants to develop Metro Manila's elevated train system, the LRT (Light Rail Transport) 1 and 2 and the MRT 3 (Metropolitan Rail Transport), to its full potential in the face of rising fuel costs.

The increasing price of petrol and diesel have been a bane to most Filipinos who have to commute to work but at the same time a boon to urban planners who see it as an opportunity to promote and give more government attention to the development of mass transport systems such as the MRT 3 and the LRT.

With the fuel prices rising over the past five years, use of the train systems, including that run by the Philippine National Railway system, had started to rise and this had forced administrators to introduce longer operating hours for the trains.

"Mass transit will not only address the problem of high fares it will also result in the decongestion of traffic and clean air because the trains will be running on electric power," Mamondong stressed.

queetz@home

July 13th, 2008, 07:32 PM

A country without a vision
BABE’S EYE VIEW By Babe Romualdez
Sunday, July 13, 2008

On one hand, this is encouraging since this means lesser traffic and pollution, but the downside is the discomfort endured by commuters squeezed like sardines inside the stuffy cars, with some Filipinos thinking they’re Italians pinching the behind of female passengers, and pickpockets plying their trade.

Only in the Philippines can journalists get away with such racist remarks...sigh :ohno:

Nonetheless, I do see some hints about rushing MRT7. Not sure if the reporters are just confusing it with the progress happening with the LRT1 extension but hopefully, if we can get the ball rolling on MRT7 soon, using this transportation crisis as the excuse to do so, then all the better. It doesn't need to finish by 2010, as long as construction starts very soon and continues to progress until completion, I'm all for it.

The big question is...what about the southern extension of LRT1 and the eastward (and by some miracle westward) extension of LRT2...when are those happening? Hmm...

habagatcentral1

July 13th, 2008, 07:36 PM

dancethingy

July 13th, 2008, 08:52 PM

Wasn't it in 2005-2006 when some of us in this forum we're arguing that railways was the only answer to Metro Manila's traffic woes and rising oil prices. Looks like some people in government are beginning to catch the drift.

kaelthas18

July 14th, 2008, 01:27 AM

^^ Same question...whats the update for the southward expansion? Haven't they noticed the exhausting and often irritating yet nakakamanhid na situation of Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite, which has reached 25% over-saturated!

nagground break na sa north extension, pero sa south nag ground breaking ceremony na ba??.. i hope sabay gawin ung north at south, it will be a big project of arroyo gov't yan.. sana umpisahan na.. tpos extend na din nla ung lrt2 to divisoria. grabe dito pag weekends at near december, sobra trafic

jefflacs

July 14th, 2008, 03:58 AM

I was checking google earth the past days, I noticed that LRT-2 can be extended not only to north/south harbor but also to the bay city/mall of asia complex, but then again the monorail system will be better on that area

kalbongdad

July 14th, 2008, 04:40 AM

went....to valenzuela last monday via edsa...and i saw a number of diggings happening all at the same time....at edsa for the lrt1 extension project....at long last....it is making progress....

Wolf1968 ^_^

July 14th, 2008, 08:02 AM

any pics guys?.. i live in the south so i dont get a chance to check it out.. pls pls pls... makati to eastwood BRT.. another cool thing..

bustero

July 14th, 2008, 08:30 AM

The vienna trams are not compatible, there would be a lot of work needed for it to be adapted to the MRT3 system.

No new trains can be procured till the buyout is done. The GOP has witheld paying it's guarantee since a few years back wanting to buyout the MRT3 contract. That's why MRT3 can not institute the expansion for the new trainsets as well. The buyout which should have been done done last year is held up by valuation problems plus FilEstate trying to get more even if it has practically sold all it's beneficial ownership. Basically a nuissance ploy as explained to me by Sobrepena to get some cash.

MRT and LRT know that the price should be raised by GMA basically is afraid fo the political repurcussions of this. Presently they are not paying their guarantees and mrt is basically operating this at a loss, so this is a plus for her as her gov't has a service operated by them without cost. This can not be sustained. Either the buyout must continue at a higher price or they raise the price of the service. Politics screws up the economics of mass transit. In places where there is less of this like in HK the train service actually makes money.

LRT6 or south extension is seemingly in limbo without any news. This important line is designed to serve multiples more passengers than line 7 since the Cavite Metropolitan area has millions more than the NE Manila. I'd be very keen to find out what the actual situation is here.

kalbongdad

July 14th, 2008, 11:48 AM

oo nga kainis...naman.....well hindi tayo mauubusan talaga ng incompetent in government service....dami....mga palpak....

Lucentino

July 14th, 2008, 01:06 PM

habagatcentral1

July 15th, 2008, 10:15 AM

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/30/P7153400.JPG?et=vy5xrKHO7LuH18MAG%2Bnstg&nmid=97827103

Passing by Vito Cruz Station
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/31/P7153401.JPG?et=rcLh4OL%2CPbcuAGeA1aQIyw&nmid=97827103

jefflacs

July 15th, 2008, 10:52 AM

^^ dapat ganito ka-wide or katulad sa mga trains ng LRT-2 yung MRT-3 then a 4th coach for each trains

bustero

July 15th, 2008, 11:07 AM

LRT extension from Baclaran to Bacoor, and all the way to Dasmarinas, Cavite should be part of the priority projects of the administration.

This project will surely have a difficult time considering such factors as politicians, ROW, and informal settlers which will be displaced!

Tough!

LRT extension to Bacoor is a Gov't priority project listed stated under GMA's SONA. This makes it higher priority than Line 7.

RonnieR

July 15th, 2008, 12:07 PM

[QUOTE=habagatcentral1;22652834]http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/30/P7153400.JPG?et=vy5xrKHO7LuH18MAG%2Bnstg&nmid=97827103

Thanks for the picture. I didn't know na ganito na pala kaganda ang loob ng LRT1.

brownman

July 15th, 2008, 01:17 PM

Wow, that 3G LRT1 train looks clean and roomy. They should purchase more of that kind.

habagatcentral1

July 15th, 2008, 02:42 PM

[quote=habagatcentral1;22652834]http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/30/P7153400.JPG?et=vy5xrKHO7LuH18MAG%2Bnstg&nmid=97827103

Thanks for the picture. I didn't know na ganito na pala kaganda ang loob ng LRT1.

Actually namimili na ako ng tren kung di nagmamadali...Dapat G3 ang sasakyan ko...:lol: Actually, the new trains has this spacious aura that is comfortable, even on rush hours...unlike its G1 Yellow Line and MRT Trains.

kaelthas18

July 15th, 2008, 03:17 PM

EDITORIAL(philippine star) – Return to mass transportation

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The Light Railway Transit and the Metro Rail Transit are filled to capacity. And the number of commuters is expected to increase further as motorists, grappling with soaring fuel prices, rediscover the advantages of mass transportation and leave their cars at home.

The factors that push people to use private vehicles particularly in Metro Manila almost always have something to do with the inefficiency of the country’s mass transportation facilities. For Philippine mass transportation, the jeepney is truly iconic: gaudy, noisy, an environmental hazard with its emissions, slow, uncomfortable, inefficient, and driven by some of the most undisciplined drivers on the planet. But the fare is cheap, and no politician has mustered the guts to consign jeepneys to museums.

Drivers and operators of public utility vehicles have resisted every effort to end anarchy in city streets. The result: long waits at every stop for passengers, traffic jams and consequently fewer trips for PUVs. Even air-conditioned buses linger too long at too many stops. And so people prefer to use private vehicles.

If the government can end the street chaos, more people will take buses and jeepneys. The speed and predictability of the travel schedules on the MRT and LRT have made them the most popular modes of mass transportation amid the fuel crunch. Their popularity should encourage the government to expand such railway services, to eventually cover all major points in Metro Manila.

At the same time, the government should speed up the modernization of the traditional railroad system, which is a good mode of transporting both passengers and cargo. Putting shipping containers on railway trains instead of truck haulers will drastically reduce traffic jams in Metro Manila. The traffic-free and speedier system of cargo delivery will also be good for investments. But this administration cannot construct even a 38-kilometer-long railway facility without the project becoming bogged down in a scandal. Commuters will just have to bear with packed LRT and MRT coaches until 2010.

cq40

July 15th, 2008, 04:17 PM

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa18/cq40/DSCN0926.jpg

Newly installed LCD Screens :)

kratos1211

July 15th, 2008, 04:42 PM

^^cool:nocrook:

Dek Thai

July 15th, 2008, 05:09 PM

^^ Now it looks fabulous! lol

habagatcentral1

July 15th, 2008, 05:15 PM

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa18/cq40/DSCN0926.jpg

Newly installed LCD Screens :)

Goodluck. Wala sanang babangang ulo dyan sa LCD screens. :lol:

RonnieR

July 15th, 2008, 05:18 PM

Goodluck. Wala sanang babangang ulo dyan sa LCD screens. :lol:

:cheers1: cool .... looks modern.

leechtat

July 15th, 2008, 07:55 PM

^^ nakakatakot lang baka malaglag yung lcd dahil sa super tulakan or whatevs.. or di kaya nuisance ito sa mga matatangkad? they remind me of the lcd adverts in metro buses plying edsa..

ryanr

July 15th, 2008, 08:02 PM

What are they for? advertising? route/next station announcements? karaoke?:D

crappypants

July 15th, 2008, 08:11 PM

karaoke^^:lol:

allan_dude

July 15th, 2008, 09:19 PM

^^ Wow pwedeng kapitan ito pag siksikan. :lol:

diz

July 15th, 2008, 11:06 PM

Wow! We're more entertaining than BART now!

greenshields

July 16th, 2008, 02:35 AM

Karaoke would be nice. Pass the microphone to passengers. Mabilis na nga ang biyahe, lalong hindi pa mararamdaman. Hwag lang may kakanta ng "My Way." :)

brownman

July 16th, 2008, 04:49 AM

Seriously, karaoke? Wow, that's something.:lol:
Anyways ngayon kolang narealize ang sikip pala sa loob, basing from the photo.

ryanr

July 16th, 2008, 06:35 AM

Karaoke would be nice. Pass the microphone to passengers. Mabilis na nga ang biyahe, lalong hindi pa mararamdaman. Hwag lang may kakanta ng "My Way." :)

:lol: that would be pretty cool. Creates a stress-free environment for the commuters.:D

Lucentino

July 16th, 2008, 08:13 AM

And additional source of income for MRT so no need to increase fare! :)

diz

July 16th, 2008, 09:03 AM

OMG! Is MRT one with those push button to open doors??

jefflacs

July 16th, 2008, 09:12 AM

^^ err I think no, that's only a "key hole" for emergency purposes only to open the doors :D

diz

July 16th, 2008, 09:16 AM

Akala ko katulad niya yung C-Train ng Calgary.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2262257170_58e008549c.jpg?v=0

Kamukha niya yung buttons ng ibang C-Train models.

ryanr

July 16th, 2008, 10:00 AM

OMG! Is MRT one with those push button to open doors??

First time i rode the MRT was after a trip to Europe, and in Paris and Vienna (they use the same green button) you have to push the button to open the door. So i kept pushing it and it wouldnt open until the driver finally opened them. Other passengers must have thought i was an ignorant guy from a village:D

jefflacs

July 16th, 2008, 10:12 AM

kapag siksikan sa train pwedeng maging "railings" yang button na yan :lol:

kadalasan yan hinahawakan ko kapag malapit ako sa pinto :lol:

kaelthas18

July 16th, 2008, 03:31 PM

kapag siksikan sa train pwedeng maging "railings" yang button na yan :lol:

kadalasan yan hinahawakan ko kapag malapit ako sa pinto :lol:

pati nga ung over head warning lights sa pintuan eh, pwede maging hawakan,haha

ung lcd screens sa loob ng train, so far 1 plang na train set nakikita ko, puro train travel lang ang palabas nito, mga 30 seconds,tpos uulit ulit sa unang palabas..

And also sa bawat station may mga nakakabit na mga 28" lcd screens for advertisement..ang pinaka madami ata eh sa Shaw boulevard station..

spearhead

July 16th, 2008, 03:47 PM

wow hitech na mrt trains uh! bien hecho! :)

wheel of steel

July 18th, 2008, 04:39 AM

MRT: No new trains 'till 2010

Commuters who brave the rush-hour crowds at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) will have to bear with stuffed trains, as the new trains won't be added into the system until possibly 2010 due to legal constraints.

The MRT has already reached its maximum daily passenger capacity of 350,000 and is currently averaging more than half a million commuters daily.

The system's trains, currently numbering 20, are facing more wear and tear due to the thousands more people using the trains and maintenance costs are also spiraling upward.

"The trains, of course, will suffer... ‘yong madali siyang [makaranas ng] wear and tear... we need to spend more on the maintenance to make these trains operational," said Arnel Manreza, Executive Assistant at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)-MRT.

The MRT however won't be able to add more trains to the system because of problems with the MRT's contract with the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) consortium.

"The consortium, which is MRTC, has the right of first refusal. That means they are the ones who are supposed to... procure for the government additional trains... the DOTC will still have to seek DOJ opinion if the government can buy or procure these units," Manreza said.

The MRT management said even if the request for more trains would be approved this year, these could possibly arrive by 2010 due to the long paperwork attached to the procurement.

The MRT is requesting for an additional 73 cart trains.

"If the negotiations or the project is approved, and the notice to proceed to the suppliers is issued within the year, by 2010 we will have at least 20 trains," he said.

The government is eyeing the buyout of the MRTC by the MRT as a possible solution that could help in hastening the procurement of new trains, as well as in other operational problems of the railway line.

"They're looking at NDC or Land Bank of the Philippines so in effect we still have to pay NDC. But at this time it will be... a concession which is better this time," Manreza added.

The MRTC, which is responsible for the maintenance of the system and the procurement of spare parts for trains, is open to the suggestion, even if their contract with the DOTC states that the government could only buy out their services by 2025. With a report from Gretchen Malalad, ABS-CBN News

habagatcentral1

July 18th, 2008, 04:47 AM

^^ Well, good luck to us commuters...I guess we have to suffer for now because of the bloody government procurement processes and everything. :ohno: Hay, what's new in Philippine bureaucratic processes anyway? :nuts: :nuts:

I don't want to be angry or mad regarding this nor numb or does not care at all because I myself is a frequent user of MRT (as in everyday..3-5x a day).

Hopefully they can approve it within this year so that by 2010, they'll have those new trains set on MRT...That will be 2 years still though, lets just cross our fingers.

stephencua

July 18th, 2008, 07:16 AM

what happened to the previously ordered trains?

bustero

July 18th, 2008, 07:17 AM

Those were for line 1.

Manila-X

July 18th, 2008, 09:30 AM

Just wondering, how are the conditions on the LRT trains both the yellow and purple lines? Are they as crowded as the MRT?

habagatcentral1

July 18th, 2008, 09:49 AM

^^ Purple Line is quite crowded but not cramped unlike MRT. On the other hand, the G1 trains of the Yellow Line are also quite crowded, especially during rush hours.

stickerPROXY18

July 18th, 2008, 11:44 AM

I rode LRT 2 a couple of days ago, the trains are know like the MRTs. Wrapped by advertisement. And there are know advertisements inside the station. Well I guess that is their strategy for not to increase their fare.

anonymous_filipino

July 18th, 2008, 12:14 PM

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa18/cq40/DSCN0926.jpg

Newly installed LCD Screens :)

Wow hi-tech na MRT! Siguro trial run pa lang ng mga LCD Screens kaya puro train travel pa lang dinidisplay. After siguro ng trial run, those LCD screens will display advertisments and the next station. Kulang na lang is to change the current destination display in front of the trains to dot-matrix LED. Btw, totoo ba na meron nang Digital Voice Announcements sa MRT?

leechtat

July 18th, 2008, 04:02 PM

^^ oo meron..

full steam ahead for lrt 1 loop extension... the surveyors are all over that stretch of EDSA..

cq40

July 18th, 2008, 04:07 PM

About the LRT1 to mrt extension, meron na mga nag susurvey ng soil/ground quality sa area, looks like go na go na ang link.

kratos1211

July 18th, 2008, 06:10 PM

Hi-tech na talaga! :okay:

BusinessWorld
Vol. XXI, No. 249
Saturday, July 19, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Corporate News

MRT introduces mobile tickets to cut long queues

The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) is introducing a mobile ticketing (m-ticket) system to make travel for its thousands of passengers more convenient.

Under the new system, mobile phone users regardless of network will simply need to register by sending a text message to 2660.

Upon registering, the subscriber will receive a two-dimensional (2D) barcode via text, which he will scan using the devices at the train stations. The barcode will serve as his ticket, allowing him to bypass the long lines at the ticket booths.

Scanning devices installed at the the Taft and North Ave. stations will become operational by Monday, while similar devices will be installed in the coming months at the other stations.

The m-tickets will cost 3% more than the regular magnetic cards, but Annabelle Margoli, Omniprime Marketing, Inc. president, in a statement argued "you’re buying convenience."

Omniprime is introducing the m-ticket system to the Philippines with the help of German software developer, Gavitech AG.

Ms. Margoli said the system will work in most models of Nokia phones, but warned some models are not compatible with the system.

Simeon Kintanar, former congressman and Omniprime chairman, said the system still needs to be fine-tuned so it becomes compatible with all kinds of mobile phones.

Soaring oil prices is forcing vehicle owners to leave their cars at home and take Metro Manila’s elevated train system in going around the metropolis.

The MRT, as a result, is seeing a sharp increase in ridership, forcing it to operate over its capacity.

The MRT system, which runs along EDSA, was designed to accommodate 350,000 passengers a day, but ridership has risen to almost half a million passengers a day. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo

stephencua

July 18th, 2008, 09:25 PM

taken from abs-cbnnews.com

DOTC to finish MRT Line 7 before 2010

The Department of Transportation and Communication aims to finish the Metro Rail Transit’s (MRT) Line 7 before 2010 to help the public amidst the rise in oil prices, said DOTC Secretary Leondro Mendoza said on Friday.

Mendoza added that this will increase MRT’s capacity to 800,000 passengers per day from the current 538,000 per day from the current 538,000 per day.

He admitted that, at present, the capacity of MRT is only 350,000, but because of the deluge of the commuters they are currently operating higher than the capacity.

The secretary vowed that they will not raise MRT’s fare and will continue to have government’s subsidy to ease the people’s burden.

The MRT Line 7 is expected to service commuters in Commonwealth area in Quezon City.

Reports however said earlier that MRT commuters will have to bear with stuffed trains, as the new trains won't be added into the system until possibly 2010 due to legal constraints.

The system's trains, currently numbering 20, are facing more wear and tear due to the thousands more people using the trains and maintenance costs are also spiraling upward.

"The trains, of course, will suffer... ‘yong madali siyang [makaranas ng] wear and tear... we need to spend more on the maintenance to make these trains operational," said Arnel Manreza, Executive Assistant at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)-MRT.

The MRT however won't be able to add more trains to the system because of problems with the MRT's contract with the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) consortium.

"The consortium, which is MRTC, has the right of first refusal. That means they are the ones who are supposed to... procure for the government additional trains... the DOTC will still have to seek DOJ opinion if the government can buy or procure these units," Manreza said.

The MRT management said even if the request for more trains would be approved this year, these could possibly arrive by 2010 due to the long paperwork attached to the procurement.

The MRT is requesting for an additional 73 cart trains.

"If the negotiations or the project is approved, and the notice to proceed to the suppliers is issued within the year, by 2010 we will have at least 20 trains," he said.

The government is eyeing the buyout of the MRTC by the MRT as a possible solution that could help in hastening the procurement of new trains, as well as in other operational problems of the railway line.

"They're looking at NDC or Land Bank of the Philippines so in effect we still have to pay NDC. But at this time it will be... a concession which is better this time," Manreza added.

The MRTC, which is responsible for the maintenance of the system and the procurement of spare parts for trains, is open to the suggestion, even if their contract with the DOTC states that the government could only buy out their services by 2025.

Alitaptap

July 19th, 2008, 01:31 AM

DOTC eyeing second-hand trains for MRT
By Rainier Allan Ronda
Saturday, July 19, 2008

In a hurry to buy more trains for the congested EDSA-bound Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said that the government is looking at buying decommissioned but available second- hand trains from Europe.

Mendoza, in a press briefing with MRT general manager Roberto Lastimoso at the rail line’s depot at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City, said that the delivery of the trains at the soonest possible time is an important factor in their decision.

“Well, we are after the one which can deliver the trains the soonest possible time,” Mendoza said.

The transportation chief said that mass rail systems in Europe, particularly in Austria and Germany, had changed their trains and they are looking at buying the old trains.

“There are second-hand trains available. There were those who changed their trains in Europe — Vienna and Germany. We’re looking at these,” Mendoza said.

He said that the almost daily overloading at the MRT is a serious concern for the government, with record high passenger volumes exceeding the maximum capacity by thousands.

“When this was built, the maximum capacity was 350,000. But now, we’ve been hitting 538,000 passengers a day,” Mendoza said in the press briefing he gave before attending the MRT’s eighth anniversary celebration where he was guest of honor.

Mendoza added that they are also looking at the possibility of buying brand-new trains.

“If you go by the industry pricing, the cost of a brand new car is about $3 million. So if we’re talking here about 73 cars, then just multiply that by 3 (million dollars),” Mendoza said.

“We need more trains. We need another 73 trains especially now that the price of fuel is too expensive,” Mendoza said.

The government, Mendoza said, is keen on procuring the much-needed trains even without the approval of the MRT Corp., the company that built the rail line under a 25-year build-lease-transfer agreement with the government in the late 1990s.

Mendoza likewise said that the DOTC already got a legal opinion from the Department of Justice that allows it to procure the additional trains when the MRTC again fails to answer their requests for the purchase of more trains.

It was learned that the BLT agreement between the MRTC and the government includes a provision that gives the MRTC a right of first refusal on the purchase of additional trains.

“Under the BLT agreement, there’s a provision there that MRTC has the right of first refusal. So if they don’t refuse, then they should procure. Now we have asked them several times, if govern-ment can procure. And on several occasions they have not answered our query so we have sought the opinion of the Department of Justice if the government can procure without the approval of MRTC in the interest of the public,” Mendoza said.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080718184

greenshields

July 19th, 2008, 03:00 AM

From the looks of the news report, I get the impression that the government is desperate to provide good public transport options to the people. However, just like what was said in the other posts in this thread, the real problem is the bureaucracy. Our government loves to make press statements and give interviews that sort of tells us to hope that all these infra will be in place (and before PGMA steps down!). However, I think it's another case of a need for the government to first look at the mirror and examine what the problem really is - itself!

queetz@home

July 19th, 2008, 03:23 AM

The solution for MRT3's woes with regards to the lack of trains is simple....just physically link it with LRT1. That way, you are pretty much expanding its fleet if the LRT1 trains are also able to travel the MRT3 route. Granted we have to wait until 2010 for it at the earliest but we have to do that anyway even if we buy the trains tomorrow (since they do take time to get manufactured and delivered). Even buying second hand trains won't be done instantly, probably close to 2010 if not at that time for them to get here because of bureacracy in both the Philippines and the other country.

So just physically link the two lines, problem solved!!!!

I really wish somebody higher up in the DOTC would read this thread and seriously consider this extremely helpful solution... :yes:

greenshields

July 19th, 2008, 03:51 AM

A physical link isn't a quick solution because the lines are not compatible. Thus, trains of one line may not cross over to the other. This is the result of not having integrated specs in the first place when the government entertained the thought of having a network of rail lines for Metro Manila. Yes, it's ideal to have compatible systems but the reality is that we dont have that right now even after the Line 1 expansions/extensions.

queetz@home

July 19th, 2008, 04:00 AM

^^ But they are compatible. The LRVs used by both lines are "off the shelf" technology and the track gauges are standard. Why else do you think they are considering buying second hand trains from elsewhere. There is nothing unique or proprietory about the configuration of the train and tracks of LRT1 or MRT3. The only thing preventing a physical linkage really is the legality since MRT3 is still managed by a private entity while LRT1 is run by a government agency. But the government is buying it out anyway so they should just plan to link them when the buyout takes place to solve the transportation crisis.

habagatcentral1

July 19th, 2008, 04:02 AM

Got a question:

Why is it that the MRT creates more noise than LRT Yellow Line? Also, the excessive vibration is noticeable too? Thanks! :)

queetz@home

July 19th, 2008, 04:07 AM

^^ Its probably the mechanical systems used by the particular model the MRT3 trains from the Czech Republic. I do notice a similarity in the door mechanism and air conditioning noise of the MRT3 trains and the Skoda (another Czech manufacturer) LRVs used by the SF MUNI so perhaps they share components from the same manufacturers. Not sure about the vibration since I never really noticed anything out of the ordinary...

habagatcentral1

July 19th, 2008, 04:15 AM

^^ I see. I was theorizing that those pebbles below the tracks might have muffled the track noise of the train in the rail. That I noticed because in the whole LRT Yellow Line, the whole track has pebbles underneath the track while in MRT, only sections have those.

habagatcentral1

July 19th, 2008, 05:46 AM

Porknight

July 19th, 2008, 08:07 AM

Why they don't buy the monthly ticket or the yearly one , it's great to avoid long waits !

habagatcentral1

July 19th, 2008, 08:11 AM

Why they don't buy the monthly ticket or the yearly one , it's great to avoid long waits !

They have weekly unlimited flash passes for P250 for unlimited rides and access for the whole system both LRT and MRT, stored value tickets for P100 for LRT and MRT, each sold separately. There's even a mobile phone ticket.

Even though they are encouraging people to buy these, a lot still buy the single journey tickets.

Manila-X

July 19th, 2008, 08:48 AM

Isn't there a plan for a smart card system similar to the Octopus card?

Porknight

July 19th, 2008, 11:26 AM

Mithril Cloud

July 19th, 2008, 11:32 AM

Tip: Just buy a stored value ticket in order for you to get to the shortest queue. Most of these people who are lining up are buying single-journey tickets.

There are a lot of times where they run out of SVTs though, for the MRT at least.

arsenalrbp

July 19th, 2008, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by habagatcentral1
Tip: Just buy a stored value ticket in order for you to get to the shortest queue. Most of these people who are lining up are buying single-journey tickets.

cld be economics.. sa hirap ng buhay, most pinoys live by the day lalo na ngayon.. kaya meron tingi-tingi na shampoo at kung ano pang pedeng benta ng small quantity.. ung funds nila eh d kaya ung madamihan na good for 1 wk or 2.. sa ibang country kaya me tingi-tingi?

Sky Harbor

July 19th, 2008, 02:20 PM

Isn't there a plan for a smart card system similar to the Octopus card?

There was a plan to install a smart card system on the LRT and MRT, but this was dropped. The proponent, a French company, if I am right, pulled out of the venture. Now, the only smart card we have would be the G-Pass on the MRT.

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 03:12 PM

Just wondering, how are the conditions on the LRT trains both the yellow and purple lines? Are they as crowded as the MRT?

crowded din sa line 1 sa umaga and mid afternoon , but mabilis ang interval ng trains , kaya pag hndi ka nakasakay, after ilang minutes lang meron ulit.. pero wala talaga tatalo sa mrt3..sardines..:dance:

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 03:22 PM

They have weekly unlimited flash passes for P250 for unlimited rides and access for the whole system both LRT and MRT, stored value tickets for P100 for LRT and MRT, each sold separately. There's even a mobile phone ticket.

Even though they are encouraging people to buy these, a lot still buy the single journey tickets.

kasi most of the riders of the mrt are masa.. di naman kaya nila maaford ang 100php , xmpre kaltas pa un sa sahod nila ..and iniisip nila isang beses lang sila sasakay doon, where in fact magagamit pa nila yun sa next 3 1/2 weeks pa

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 03:26 PM

Isn't there a plan for a smart card system similar to the Octopus card?

un ba ung tulad sa Singapore mrt? na pwede rin sa mga singapore buses?

Lucentino

July 19th, 2008, 03:31 PM

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/34/P7183454.JPG?et=LGTS2HaK0gbqSDC98stgUA&nmid=97827103

Tip: Just buy a stored value ticket in order for you to get to the shortest queue. Most of these people who are lining up are buying single-journey tickets.

I can see they have installed surveillance cameras, or is it?

Stored value tickets really help since it can be bought at a discount compared to buying daily. And saves the hassle on queuing on ticket counters, but not the ride. :)

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 03:33 PM

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 03:36 PM

nakakagulat yung mrt pag hndi nag sara ung pintuan.. may kumakalabog sa concrete along the rail tracks.. parang masisira..haha

Sky Harbor

July 19th, 2008, 03:53 PM

lrt 1- e ung yellow line diba..
line 2- ung purple
line 3 - blue..sa edsa
ung line 4 ??? any news kung tuloy pa un along espana to qc?
line 5 -?
line 6 - from baclaran - niog right??? ano un phisically link ba ang tracks? or parang mrt/lrt1 lang na different lines?
line 7 -north ave-caloocan north.. bakit inuna ito??

-Line 1: LRT-1
-Line 2: MRT-2
-Line 3: MRT-3
-Line 4: Dropped and replaced with MRT-7
-Line 5: Metro Manila portion of Northrail (the Fort Bonifacio link)
-Line 6: LRT-1 South Extension (Baclaran-Niog and eventually to Imus and Dasmariñas. The line will be seamlessly extended from Baclaran southward, if I remember right)
-Line 7: MRT-7 (North Avenue to Tala, Caloocan City)

By the way, you forgot Line 8.

-Line 8: MRT-8 (East Rail Line; from Santa Mesa to Angono, Rizal and eventually to as far east as Santa Cruz, Laguna)

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 04:59 PM

-Line 1: LRT-1
-Line 2: MRT-2
-Line 3: MRT-3
-Line 4: Dropped and replaced with MRT-7
-Line 5: Metro Manila portion of Northrail (the Fort Bonifacio link)
-Line 6: LRT-1 South Extension (Baclaran-Niog and eventually to Imus and Dasmariñas. The line will be seamlessly extended from Baclaran southward, if I remember right)
-Line 7: MRT-7 (North Avenue to Tala, Caloocan City)

By the way, you forgot Line 8.

-Line 8: MRT-8 (East Rail Line; from Santa Mesa to Angono, Rizal and eventually to as far east as Santa Cruz, Laguna)

so ung line 4 bakante pa rin.. ano kaya magiging line 4?.. and sana hndi line 6 ang itatawag nila sa south extension ng lrt 1.. ang sagwa naman, magkadugtong na extension tapos ibang line ang tawag. . mejo malabo din ang dotc ah..

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 05:18 PM

jefflacs

July 19th, 2008, 05:28 PM

^^ Actually pwede pa nilang iextend yung LRT2 not only to pier (north or south harbor) pwede din nilang padaanin sa Roxas blvd.

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 05:47 PM

^^ Actually pwede pa nilang iextend yung LRT2 not only to pier (north or south harbor) pwede din nilang padaanin sa Roxas blvd.

yup... its either they go southward along roxas blvd(subway para di masira ang view) then up to mall of asia...(parang ginawa ng singapore mrt sa Marina) then ung mrt3 pwede din up to MoA.. dba?

or if the lrt2 went north ward bypassing the r-10 going to malabon then ending at caloocan northrail terminal .. angas diba??

Sky Harbor

July 19th, 2008, 05:48 PM

Eto suggestion lang ha:

pwede kaya nila extend pa ng 5 stations ang lrt2.. nakita ko sa Citi atlas kasi ung gap ng per stations..kaya i based it on the current status

pwede pa nila extend ng 1 pang station westward from recto terminal to tutuban..=)

tpos eastward from santolan terminal to amang rodriguez ave., then imelda ave(sta lucia), then san isidro tpos Sumulong hiway.. o diba..

by the way.. ung Line 8 ba eh Shaw blvd ang dadaanan nya? if that so.. eh possible kaya na mag karoon ng subway naman from gilmore to antipolo? via Ortigas Avenue then ortigas ext. eventually magmmeet din sila ng line 2 doon.. imagination lang to ha..hehe.. tapos sya na magiging line 9..

tpos ung line 4 naman-from lerma(elevated)-espana(elevated)-q. ave(subway)-circle(subway)-carlos garcia(U.P.)(subway)-then c-5 up to bonifacio gc (subway) then naia 3 na??.. haha..

MRT-4 should be a subway at any cost. No one, especially Lito Atienza, the main opponent of MRT-4, would want an elevated metro above España. And yes, MRT-2 may be extended to as far west as Manila North Harbor and as far east as Cogeo in Antipolo per the original plan.

MRT-8 will be underground and at-grade, if I'm right. Several tunnel sections will be built between Pililla and Santa Cruz.

@jefflacs: MRT-2 on Roxas Boulevard would be a horrible idea (unless it's underground, where it would be better off as an independent line). Who will be able to look at Manila's fabled sunsets if a train will block their view?

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 05:52 PM

MRT-4 should be a subway at any cost. No one, especially Lito Atienza, the main opponent of MRT-4, would want an elevated metro above España. And yes, MRT-2 may be extended to as far west as Manila North Harbor and as far east as Cogeo in Antipolo per the original plan.

MRT-8 will be underground and at-grade, if I'm right. Several tunnel sections will be built between Pililla and Santa Cruz.

@jefflacs: MRT-2 on Roxas Boulevard would be a horrible idea (unless it's underground, where it would be better off as an independent line). Who will be able to look at Manila's fabled sunsets if a train will block their view?

pero...pano ung baha sa espana?..still no solution to the yearly flood along the Espana River.. grabe dito..

Sky Harbor

July 19th, 2008, 05:54 PM

yup... its either they go southward along roxas blvd(subway para di masira ang view) then up to mall of asia...(parang ginawa ng singapore mrt sa Marina) then ung mrt3 pwede din up to MoA.. dba?

or if the lrt2 went north ward bypassing the r-10 going to malabon then ending at caloocan northrail terminal .. angas diba??

MRT-3 to MoA would entail closing Taft Avenue station to place the remainder of the MRT underground. An at-grade MRT-3 would seriously disrupt traffic on Roxas Boulevard and would affect the operation of the Roxas-EDSA flyover.

^^ There was a solution posted in an earlier part of this thread (based on a Malaysian expressway design; see below).

^^ Build something similar to this, change the cars for train.

http://www.mmc.com.my/images/img-smart01.jpg
SMART’s grand vision for a new future for Kuala Lumpur is becoming an imminent reality.

The ingenious SMART Project is a stormwater channel and motorway passage merged into a single tunnel. Was completed last June 2007, SMART has put Malaysia on the map of international engineering feats.
Innovative and cost-effective solution
SMART is an innovative and cost-effective solution that addresses two distinct problems in Kuala Lumpur: major floods caused by heavy rains during the monsoon season and severe traffic congestion along city streets during peak hours.

http://www.mmc.com.my/images/pic-SMART-01.gifhttp://www.mmc.com.my/images/pic-SMART-01a.gif

1. No storm, low rainfall
No flood water will be diverted into the SMART system.

http://www.mmc.com.my/images/pic-SMART-02.gifhttp://www.mmc.com.my/images/pic-SMART-02a.gif

2. Moderate storm
The SMART system will be activated and flood water will be diverted into the bypass tunnel in the lower channel of the motorway. Up to this point, the motorway will still be open to traffic.

http://www.mmc.com.my/images/pic-SMART-03.gifhttp://www.mmc.com.my/images/pic-SMART-03a.gif

3. Major storm
The SMART system will be activated and the motorway will be closed to traffic. Sufficient time will be allocated to allow the last vehicle to exit the motorway before the automated watertight gates are opened to allow flood water in. The motorway will be re-opened to traffic within 48 hours.

The SMART system will divert flood water from entering the critical stretch of Sungai Ampang and Sungai Klang via a holding pond, bypass tunnel and storage reservoir. The stormwater tunnel between the holding pond and the storage reservoir is about 9.7 km long and runs beneath the city limits, mostly under public roads.

Three kilometres of this tunnel will double-up as a motorway. Convenient ingress and egress ramps at each end of the motorway will direct traffic into and out of the motorway from the existing and congested stretches of Jalan Tun Razak and Kuala Lumpur-Seremban highway.

For more information on SMART, please visit www.smarttunnel.com.my

kaelthas18

July 19th, 2008, 06:14 PM

MRT-3 to MoA would entail closing Taft Avenue station to place the remainder of the MRT underground. An at-grade MRT-3 would seriously disrupt traffic on Roxas Boulevard and would affect the operation of the Roxas-EDSA flyover.

yep.. siguro bago dumating ng tramo underground na xa.. den taft station will be underground then to MoA terminal station (under ground beside MoA)

odyssey

July 19th, 2008, 10:26 PM

Edsa rail line to add 73 coaches
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police3_july19_2008
By Gigi Muñoz David

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza announced yesterday that management of Metro Rail Transit-3 will acquire 73 rail cars to expand the system amid increasing ridership.

In a briefing during the eighth anniversary of MRT-3 at its depot, he put the cost of purchase around $220 million.

Joining him were MRT administrator Roberto Lastimoso, Light Rail Transit Authority head Melquiades Robles, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief Thompson Lantion.

The Edsa line has 74 coaches equivalent to 23 trains.

Mendoza reckoned the present ridership has reached 530,000 a day from the 380,000, counted before the recent round of fuel price hikes.

Also in the options list, he said, are pre-owned units from First-World countries that are replenishing their rolling stocks.

“We are also taking into consideration the procurement of second-hand trains in European countries that has upgraded their rail system,” Mendoza said.

Since the oil prices continue to increase, commuters of Metro Manila and nearby localities are opting for the MRT and Light Railway Transit Lines 1 and 2 over their own vehicles and public transports, according to Mendoza.

Around 1.8 million passengers of MRT and LRT will be served with the closing of the loop, he said, noting that MRT-7 along Commonwealth to Bulacan would follow.

galore

July 19th, 2008, 10:53 PM

but it didn't say by when?

cq40

July 20th, 2008, 01:56 AM

^^ yeah, and "when" is everything...

kaelthas18

July 20th, 2008, 03:15 AM

oo nga... lagi nlng natin question yan...

kratos1211

July 21st, 2008, 03:44 AM

WB keen on hiking loans
to RP, bares project plans

Business Mirror
By Cai U. Ordinario
Reporter

The Washington-based lending agency also intends to finance the public side of the Manila Light Rail Transit 1 South Extension project, which is a model public-private partnership project of the government.

Hofman said the whole project would cost around $250 million to $300 million. The private side of the project, he said, will still have to be bidded out. “We’re in very high hopes with regard to this project. This will become a model for many other public-private partnerships to come,” Hofman said.

habagatcentral1

July 21st, 2008, 03:57 AM

One early Sunday morning at LRT Line 1 (Quirino Ave. Station)

I think there are some rehab works that are ongoing in several stations.
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/204/600x600/8/P7203560.JPG?et=VuK4GAYBoPu%2BQNU81UEa%2Cg&nmid=106532924

Juan Pilgrim

July 21st, 2008, 04:09 AM

Negotiate on plan to buy LRT trains, DoJ advises DoTC, MRTC

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080721130330.html

By GABBY MABUTAS

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has advised the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) and the Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) to negotiate on the former’s plan to acquire new trains amid the increasing number of light rail passengers.

The DoJ noted that DoTC and MRTC have conflicting positions on the matter.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez gave the advice in DoJ Legal Opi-nion No. 45, which was issued in response to a query of DoTC on whether or not it could proceed with its plan to procure additional Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) under its emergency relief measure pursuant to Section 5.2 of its Built, Lease and Transfer (BLT) agreement with MRTC despite the latter’s delayed opposition.

In its request for a legal opinion, the DoTC inquired whether or not "on the basic statutory principle on ‘Mutuality Contracts’ under Article 1308 of the New Civil Code, the ‘Principle of Obligatory Force of Contracts’ under Article 1159 of the same Code, and the express unambiguous revisions of Section 5.2 of the BLT agreement -- the MRTC, by its delayed action on the proposed procurement of trains, has already waived its right of first refusal.

The DoTC sought the DoJ’s legal opinion after the MRTC failed to act on time on its proposal for the procurement of additional trains.

The transport department has proposed to acquire 70 LRVs in an effort to augment MRT facilities, which serve the increasing number of passengers estimated at 600,000 daily.

Observers said the continued preference of passengers for the MRT is attributed to the continuing increase in oil prices and fares.

The DoTC said it received only on May 8 MRTC’s reply in whichthe latter categorically made known its reservations to give its consent to the proposed procurement as well as its reservation of the right of its first refusal to supply the LRVs."

In a three-page DoJ opinion, Gonzalez said that while Section 5.2 of the BLT agreement fails to provide a period of time within which the MRTC may exercise it rights of first refusal or may signify its intention to waive such right, "such absence does not give either party the unilateral right to determine the period within which the other party must exercise the right or may be deemed to have waived the same. Reason and fair play demand that both DOTC and MRTC must agree on a period certain and meet to settle any issue arising from the BLT agreement."

Under Section 20.1 of the BLT agreement, the parties agreed that "in the event that there is any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to any provisions of this agreement or the interpretation, enforceability, performance, breach, termination or validity (of the contract), they shall meet in an effort to resolve such a dispute by discussions between them."

"But failing such resolution, the secretary of the DoTC and the chief executive of the Metro Rail shall meet to resolve such disputes and their joint declaration shall be binding upon the parties," the agreement stated.

Given the circumstances, the DoJ opinion stated, it would be appropriate for both parties to prescribe a 30-day period within which the DoTC and MRTC should meet to resolve the issue.

:horse:

JP

RonnieR

July 21st, 2008, 05:18 AM

habagatcentral1

July 21st, 2008, 06:11 AM

^^ Yup. That's the 3G trains of the Yellow Line. I think repainting is not enough, they need more lights in the station and also some nip and tuck and it will look brand new.

le Reine

July 21st, 2008, 07:07 AM

The LRT is actually pretty decent for it's age unlike the MRT which is in existence for just 8 years.

LRT Carriedo Station
http://images.ekspi.multiply.com/image/2/photos/68/1200x1200/26/CIMG0241.JPG?et=WHSFTrCPbdkk8osOAFt7rw&nmid=106622189

MRT Buendia Station
http://images.ekspi.multiply.com/image/3/photos/67/1200x1200/19/CIMG0199.JPG?et=8KYiTuQ89Qi6j1dhWfM%2BWw&nmid=105843298

MRT Boni Station
http://images.ekspi.multiply.com/image/3/photos/67/1200x1200/13/CIMG0192.JPG?et=HuDiyifzqbemRW3IGwwIlg&nmid=105843298

http://images.ekspi.multiply.com/image/3/photos/67/1200x1200/14/CIMG0194.JPG?et=wtjlytgK7uzYR%2BM8uCMVyQ&nmid=105843298

habagatcentral1

July 21st, 2008, 07:13 AM

^^ At mabuti naman at di ka nahuli sa kaka-picture mo? :lol:

le Reine

July 21st, 2008, 07:15 AM

^^ At mabuti naman at di ka nahuli sa kaka-picture mo? :lol:Of course. :lol: It only takes a little creativity to do that. hahaha...

leechtat

July 21st, 2008, 02:42 PM

they are already testing the soil in monumento for the lrt loop extension..

kaelthas18

July 21st, 2008, 06:57 PM

question.. bakit kaya hndi ginawang island platform ung mga lahat ng mrt3 stations (parang taft avenue station at santolan terminal of lrt2)...? parang sa mga subway sa singapore mrt?

le Reine

July 21st, 2008, 08:12 PM

bitoy

July 21st, 2008, 11:06 PM

jefflacs

July 22nd, 2008, 03:36 AM

no. santolan does not have an island platform. only taft, beundia and shaw have that.

he/she meant the island platform of Santolan station of LRT2

greenshields

July 22nd, 2008, 03:46 AM

question.. bakit kaya hndi ginawang island platform ung mga lahat ng mrt3 stations (parang taft avenue station at santolan terminal of lrt2)...? parang sa mga subway sa singapore mrt?

They probably had design constraints (or at least they want us to believe they did) for these stations especially since elevated sila. However, a more plausible reason might be so that along the MRT 3, there will be controlled transfers between trains going opposite directions. Also, the island platforms like the one at Shaw has incorporated storage for a spare train that can be deployed as needed (e.g. transition to peak traffic).

Santolan station of Line 2 is an end station (depot na ang katabi di ba) so the design is suited for end station operations. This is just like the Taft MRT 3 station. I'm sure there are other reasons, including consideration of developments adjacent to the station.

queetz@home

July 22nd, 2008, 04:03 AM

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/34/P7183454.JPG?et=LGTS2HaK0gbqSDC98stgUA&nmid=97827103

Tip: Just buy a stored value ticket in order for you to get to the shortest queue. Most of these people who are lining up are buying single-journey tickets.

This is the real rush hour on LRT stations... now, everyone knows how important a mass transit is.
Humina ang kita ng mga bus, jeepney and taxis for sure.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080708/i/r322563687.jpg

Sa Pilipinas talaga, lahat puro pila!!!
:eek2:

greenshields

July 22nd, 2008, 04:12 AM

It's also about time for the MRT and LRTA to introduce rail passes. I'm sure the demand is already there for monthly, quarterly or even semi annual and annual passes. They can be priced in such a way that you can use them for all the Lines and unlimited access pa throughout the period of validity of the pass. Students may have discounts for their passes and companies may also avail of similar discounts for their employees. I'm not aware of similar passes with our ASEAN neighbors but they have these in Japan and they can also be used for buses.

sushi___

July 22nd, 2008, 07:01 AM

in comparison lang

sa Japan Railway (JR) sa Kansai area (Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto) halos lahat ng tao instant access sa trains thru cards (limited access, one-day access, 1 month, etc.) at maganda nito kahit magkaibang operator ng trains pwede gamitin yung card, walang pila most of the time... not like in that picture...

sana lahat na din ng station ng LRT 1 at MRT katulad na ng LRT2 na ticket vending machines na lang (like in Japan) , mas bibilis mga pila... just press the station insert your money get the ticket that's it... (may mga mapa pala na nakapost sa mga station (eki) sa Japan railways) kaya kahit baguhan ka you know where you are heading...

nice news pala sa WB funding part of the LRT south extension, eh mabusisi sila sa paggamit ng loans nila... anyway 2013 maybe a reality of SM North to Dasma by Light Rail train...

we really lack trains in the Philippines... we need them badly...

Porknight

July 22nd, 2008, 07:21 AM

This is the real rush hour on LRT stations... now, everyone knows how important a mass transit is.
Humina ang kita ng mga bus, jeepney and taxis for sure.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080708/i/r322563687.jpg

I hate to be so rigid , but all these people at the same hour its dangerous , what if there is a fire or a terrorist activity ?
Sorry guys there are cities with less than 2 milion people having a subway . I agree that its overprice but Manila need it .

Lucentino

July 22nd, 2008, 07:39 AM

^^Question is: How?

They can't even accomplish the PNR Linkage project, which by the way could be considered much simpler than a subway construction-wise. Political-will and people's support is key!

dancethingy

July 22nd, 2008, 08:30 AM

^^ Didn't we see this coming???????

I hate to say it, but sometimes the government only takes actions when it the situation becomes urgent. Nothing is anticipated. The lack of political will from the admin and the lack of cooperation from the opposition. It all boils down to screwing the people that need it most.

Manila-X

July 22nd, 2008, 08:44 AM

Askal82

July 22nd, 2008, 09:24 AM

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/174/600x600/34/P7183454.JPG?et=LGTS2HaK0gbqSDC98stgUA&nmid=97827103

Tip: Just buy a stored value ticket in order for you to get to the shortest queue. Most of these people who are lining up are buying single-journey tickets.

It seems that you're going to waste your time waiting on the line rather than waiting for the trains to arrive. How efficient.

Porknight

July 22nd, 2008, 09:48 AM

^^Question is: How?

They can't even accomplish the PNR Linkage project, which by the way could be considered much simpler than a subway construction-wise. Political-will and people's support is key!

Easy , let's invade the country .. How many we are in SSC?

bustero

July 22nd, 2008, 10:02 AM

This is the real rush hour on LRT stations... now, everyone knows how important a mass transit is.
Humina ang kita ng mga bus, jeepney and taxis for sure.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080708/i/r322563687.jpg

Grabe to, this is a tragedy waiting to happen!

There are a number of things they can do to help alleviate this assuming the new trains do not get here on time (a very likely scenario):

1) Adjust their prices upward by one or two pesos, the extra money can be used to improve the stations safety features like platform doors;

2) Create a pass lane and sell monthly passes AT A PREMIUM, this may seem counter intuitive but for the convinience people will still mostly buy such passes;

3) Do peak hour pricing, this will help distribute the crush hour periods;

4) Put more sales points both inside and more importantly outside the stations at least the lines to the window counter will not clog up the lines to the trains.

habagatcentral1

July 22nd, 2008, 01:36 PM

Wala lang...
Was it me or did I just saw SSC Philippines in "The Explainer" on ANC? :D
Talking about our influence in information. :lol: Sikat! :D

They were talking about the Rail System.

johnmizer

July 22nd, 2008, 01:37 PM

hey, nakita ko sa news kanina sa 1morning yung you would order a ticket thru cp, then papadalhan ka ng picture message, which will be scanned tapos yun na yung ticket mo. astig

cq40

July 22nd, 2008, 03:38 PM

This is the real rush hour on LRT stations... now, everyone knows how important a mass transit is.
Humina ang kita ng mga bus, jeepney and taxis for sure.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080708/i/r322563687.jpg
Gusto ko na din ipost and photo na ito kaya lang for the sake of the filipino people hindi ako nag post dahil attractive ito sa mga terrorist. Madami tao, baka i-plan pa nila ng husto ito...

If you take it down it would be great, just my opinion, ok lng kung hindi.

habagatcentral1

July 22nd, 2008, 03:43 PM

^^ Try to check this website:

www.omniprime.net

Sky Harbor

July 22nd, 2008, 03:52 PM

^^ OMI technology is used in SM Cinemas, where you can purchase movie tickets using your Smart mobile phone and scan it to get your ticket. If I am right, it is only found in Megamall.

kratos1211

July 22nd, 2008, 04:19 PM

LRTA good job :cheers1:
MRT :bash:

LRTA denies reports of overcrowding in trains

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:50:00 07/22/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) denied on Tuesday reports that its Line 1 and Line 2 trains are becoming overcrowded as more commuters seek alternative transport because of the continuous increases in fuel prices.

In a statement, administrator Melquiades Robles said each of the LRTA’s Line 1 trains, which travels from Baclaran in Parañaque City to Monumento in Caloocan City, has a seating capacity of 1,309,680 passengers a day or 38,520 passengers per hour.

Line 1 also has 139 coaches available.

Each of the 16 trains of LRTA’s Line 2, plying the Recto to Santolan route, can carry a maximum of 730,240 passengers a day, he added.

“Line 1 and Line 2 can still take in more passengers amidst reports that commuters are now being squeezed into overcrowded trains as demand for train ridership surged following the continuous oil price hike[s],” Robles said.

He also denied claims that passenger queues for both trains have reached the foot of station staircases because of overcrowding.

“While it may be true for other carriers, overcrowding in the trains and that kind of queuing will not happen with our Line 2 system and is no longer the case for our Line 1 system after we had our capacity expansion,” Robles said.

The expansion was undertaken in anticipation of an increase in train ridership brought by the oil price increases, he said. The move included the rehabilitation of trains that have been out of operation for 15 years.

Line 2 posted the highest ridership on July 4 with 219,995 passengers, while Line 1 posted the highest ridership on the same day with 475,891 passengers.

“Even if our ridership for all line systems will increase by 50 percent, we can still absorb the additional passengers,” assures Robles.

kratos1211

July 22nd, 2008, 04:22 PM

^^ OMI technology is used in SM Cinemas, where you can purchase movie tickets using your Smart mobile phone and scan it to get your ticket. If I am right, it is only found in Megamall.

Sa MRT lang ata ang m-ticket.

Hi-tech na talaga! :okay:

BusinessWorld
Vol. XXI, No. 249
Saturday, July 19, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Corporate News

MRT introduces mobile tickets to cut long queues

The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) is introducing a mobile ticketing (m-ticket) system to make travel for its thousands of passengers more convenient.

Under the new system, mobile phone users regardless of network will simply need to register by sending a text message to 2660.

Upon registering, the subscriber will receive a two-dimensional (2D) barcode via text, which he will scan using the devices at the train stations. The barcode will serve as his ticket, allowing him to bypass the long lines at the ticket booths.

Scanning devices installed at the the Taft and North Ave. stations will become operational by Monday, while similar devices will be installed in the coming months at the other stations.

The m-tickets will cost 3% more than the regular magnetic cards, but Annabelle Margoli, Omniprime Marketing, Inc. president, in a statement argued "you’re buying convenience."

Omniprime is introducing the m-ticket system to the Philippines with the help of German software developer, Gavitech AG.

^^ OMI technology is used in SM Cinemas, where you can purchase movie tickets using your Smart mobile phone and scan it to get your ticket. If I am right, it is only found in Megamall.