The Metro Rail Transit 3 management will implement their experimental Express Train Service which will skip other stations and go directly to the ones with most activity. The scheme will be implemented starting today, May 7 and will run until May 20, 2014. The findings of the experimental run will be submitted to the DOTC for approval whether it will be permanently implemented.
Starting on May 7 to May 13, MRT 3 Express trains operating from North Avenue station to Taft Avenue station will be deployed alternately with regular trains from 7:00 AM t0 9:00 AM.
On May 14 to May 20, the same experimental morning schedules will be implemented with the trains operating from Taft Avenue station to North Avenue station, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
According to the DOTC and MRT 3 management, express trains will make only five stops from the time they are deployed from the end-stations. The first or “pick-up” stop is meant to board passenger from one of the more heavily-congested stations, before going directly to the second to fifth stops, where most riders will alight.
All morning and afternoon trips of the express trains will each ply three different routes to maximize the experiment’s impact on riders. During the morning operations, the first express train will start its run from North Avenue stations and will make a pick-up stop at the Quezon Avenue station, the second express trains will pick-up from GMA-Kamuning and the third will pick-up from Cubao station.
Each one of the three express trains will then proceed to the Buendia, Ayala, Magallanes, and Taft Avenue stations, this cycle will be repeated alternately with regular trains during the 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM peak hours.
During the afternoon Express Train runs, the first train will start its run from Taft Avenue station, the first Express Train will make a pick-up stop at the Magallanes station, the second Express Train will pick-up from the Ayala Station, and the third Express Train will pick-up from the Buendia station.
Each Express train will proceed to their destinations such as Cubao, GMA-Kamuning, Quezon Avenue, and North Avenue stations. The cycle will be repeated alternately with regular trains during the 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM peak hours.
In order to fully informed the Express Trains experiment, the DOTC will install sufficient signages at its facilities for passengers to be fully aware and informed of the test runs. The MRT-3 will also make announcements over the P.A. system of its stations to update passengers regrading each approaching train – whether it is regular train or Express Train.
According to the MRT management at the end of the two-week testing period, the management will evaluate the results of the experiment and make its recommendation to the DOTC whether the express train service should be permanent or not.