Metro Manila’s most popular mode of transport, the Metro Rail Transit III (MRT-3) started their two-week experimental run of the express train service scheme. The new scheme followed the extended operating hours of the MRT-3 last February to March 2014.
Related Article: How the MRT 3 Express Train System Works
The experimental scheme which will run from May 7 to May 20, 2014, is meant to cater to the passenger’s riding habits, by the deployment of Express Trains which will skip other stations and go directly to the ones with most activity. The first deployment will be implemented from North Avenue stations to Taft Avenue.
According to the data gathered by MRT, based on passenger volume, most peak-hour weekday morning, riders begin their trips at the North Avenue station. while a substantial number also start from Quezon Avenue, GMA-Kamuning and Cubao stations. Most of these passengers alight at the Buendia, Ayala, Magallanes, and Taft Avenue stations.
Most peak-hour weekday afternoon riders starts their trips from the Taft Avenue station, with a large number also boarding from Magallanes, Ayala, and Buendia stations. Most of the mentioned passengers alight at the Cubao, GMA-Kamuning, Quezon Avenue, and North Avenue stations.
The experimental scheme of MRT-3 is meant to cater to these passenger riding habits, with the use of Express Trains that will skip other stations and go directly to the ones with most activity.
Meanwhile on May 15 to May 20, the Express Train will run alternately with regular trains from Taft Avenue station from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The express trains from Taft to North Avenue will compliment support the express trains North to Taft which will run in the morning peak hours.
According to the DOTC and MRT-3 Management, the express trains will make only five stops from the time they are deployed from end-stations. The first or “pick-up” stations is meant to board passengers from one of the more heavily-congested stations, before going directly to the second to the fifth stops, where most riders will alight. The morning and afternoon trips will each ply three different routes to maximize the experiment’s impact on riders.