MRT-3 implements extended weekday hours

The line will remain open to serve passengers commuting later in the day.

On Monday, March 24, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) released its new timetable effective on the same day.

Reflected on the new schedule was the instruction of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon last week to add one hour to the train system’s weekday operations to serve night shift workers, especially those in the business processing and outsourcing (BPO) industry.

As per the table, the entrance to the southbound entrance at North Avenue will close at 10:25 pm and the last train headed to the south will leave at 10:30 pm.

Meanwhile, the entrance at the Taft Avenue station will close at 11:04 pm every weekday evening, with the last northbound train departing at 11:09 pm.

Every weekend, however, the North Avenue station will close its entrance gates at 9:25 pm, while the Taft Avenue stop will remain open to entry for the last northbound train of the day at 10:04 pm.

“Officially starting today extended na po ang oras ng MRT-3. Today umpisa na yun, tuloy-tuloy na yun,” said Sec. Dizon said during a briefing on Monday

To inform the riding public about the change, signages in all 13 stations have installed to announce the new train operating schedules.

During his inspection on Monday, March 17, Sec. Dizon visited the Taft, Ayala, and Shaw stations, which all draw high commuter volumes during those hours, and personally spoke to passengers about their riding experiences using the line.

Some of those pointed out by Dizon are the insufficient lighting and wayfinding signs in stations, and the lack of a convenient walkway for passengers transferring from MRT-3 to the BGC Bus stop in Ayala.

He also promised to inprove the flow of passengers, suggesting the removal of X-ray scanners and the reparation of broken turnstiles.

Aside from the added operational hour, the Transport Chief also instructed MRT-3 to deploy more trains during peak hours.

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