MANILA, Philippines – The Light Rail Transit extended, starting on Tuesday, the operation of its Lines 1 and 2 by 30 minutes, so the system now closes at 11 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.

But the 30-minute extension of both lines will run from Monday to Friday only.

This was announced on Monday in a press conference by Melquiades Robles, administrator of the Light Rail Transport Authority (LRTA).

President Gloria Macapagao-Arroyo, he said, has instructed the LRTA to extend the operational hours of both lines to encourage people to take the trains.

The 30-minutes will mean an additional 23,000 passengers a day for Line 1, which runs from Monumento to Baclaran, and an additional 20,000 passengers a day for Line 2, which runs from Santolan Road to Recto Avenue.

Both lines are operational as early as 5 a.m.

"We hope that commuters who are used to take the jeep as a mode of transportation at this time of the night will instead take the LRT as we extend our operations," Robles said. "It is cheaper and safer means of transportation."

The extension will mean additional costs for the LRTA, according to Robles. But his office will not pass it on to the public. Instead, the LRTA woul dtreat this cost as a "missionary run."

“We do not expect to earn much from this," Robles said."We will subsidize any cost that is related to the extension of our operations. There will be no fare hike as well."

Line 1 system has a stable of 139 coaches that may be configured into 3-car or 4-car train combinations depending on passenger demand.

It can carry as much as 1,309,680 passengers per day, or 38,520 persons per hour in each direction. The highest ridership count for the month was also on July 4, with 475,891 passengers.

From January to July this year, the ridership of Line 1 had reached 76.73 million already compared to 67.49 million recorded in the same period last year, or a 13 percent increase.

For Line 2, the agency expects to carry 3,166 passengers more daily. From January to July, the system recorded 4.57 million passengers.

LRTA’s Line 2 system has 16 trainsets available, which can carry a maximum of 730, 240 passengers per day. It posted a ridership of 219, 995 last July 4, the highest so far since its first commercial operation in 2003.

All LRTA trainsets are equipped with air-conditioning units, making passengers’ travel more comfortable and less stressful.

- GMANews.TV