A year after fire damaged the Light Rail Transport (LRT)-2’s power rectifiers and rail tracks, the Santolan, Katipunan and Anonas stations are resuming operations today, Jan. 22.
In a statement released on its Facebook page, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) announced that the Santolan station’s first commercial trip started at 5 a.m., while its last commercial trip will be at 8:30 p.m. The Recto station also had its first commercial trip at 5 a.m., with the last trip slated at 9 p.m.
Despite resuming full operations, passengers might need to allot more travel time when using LRT-2, as a 30 kilometers per hour speed restriction needs to be implemented when the train approaches the Anonas station. Instead of the average 28 minutes, travel time from Santolan to Recto will now take 35 minutes.
The LRTA also reminded passengers of the safety measures to be implemented on the reopening tomorrow, which include the mandatory wearing of face masks and shields, thermal scanning, physical distancing measures and the “no talking” policy.
LRTA Administrator Reynaldo Berroya assured commuters that tests were conducted to confirm the reliability of the provisional power supply for the stations’ reopening, and that it met the parameters for safe operations.
“We will resume whole line operations with limitations and restrictions, while the full restoration and repairs of the fire-damaged Rectifier Substation (RSS) Nos. 5 and 6 signaling and telecommunications are simultaneously being undertaken,” he explained.
Berroya added that the LRTA is expediting the restoration of down trains, which will “reduce the current headway and add more passengers to our current 32,000 average daily ridership as affected by the pandemic restrictions.”