Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2

LRT Line 2
LRT2
Santolan station platform area
Overview
Type	Rapid transit / Heavy rail
System	Manila Light Rail Transit System
Locale	Manila, Philippines
Termini	Santolan Recto
Stations	11[1]
Services	1[1]
Daily ridership	195,700 (2013 average) 269,271 (2012 record)[2]
Website	LRT-2
Operation
Opened	April 5, 2003[1]
Owner	Light Rail Transit Authority
Operator(s)	Light Rail Transit Authority
Rolling stock	72 Toshiba/Hyundai Rotem EMUs [1]
Technical
Track length	13.8 km (8.6 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line
Operating speed	60–80 km/h (37–50 mph)
Route map Masinag under construction Antipolo Pasig Emerald Santolan Depot Pasig Marikina Marikina River Marikina Quezon City Katipunan Anonas Araneta Center–Cubao  MRT3  Betty Go-Belmonte Gilmore Quezon City San Juan J. Ruiz San Juan River San Juan Manila V. Mapa Pureza  PNR  Legarda Recto  LRT1  Tutuban approved extension Divisoria Pier 4

The Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2, also known as LRT Line 2, LRT-2, or Megatren, is a rapid transit line in Metro Manila in the Philippines, generally running in an east-west direction along the Radial Road 6 and a portion of the Circumferential Road 1. Although operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority, resulting in its being called "LRT-2", it is actually a heavy rail, rapid transit system owing to its use of electric multiple units instead of the light rail vehicles used in earlier lines and is presently the only line utilizing such vehicles in the country (until the Metro Manila Subway opens in 2025). Envisioned in the 1970s as part of the Metropolitan Manila Strategic Mass Rail Transit Development Plan, the eleven-station, 13.8-kilometer (8.6 mi) line was the third rapid transit line to be built in Metro Manila when it started operations in 2003. It is operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), a government-owned and controlled corporation attached to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under an official development assistance scheme.

Serving close to 200,000 passengers daily, LRT-2 is the least busy among Metro Manila's three rapid transit lines, and was built with standards such as barrier-free access and the use of magnetic card tickets to facilitate passenger access in mind. Total ridership however is significantly below the line's built maximum capacity, with various solutions being proposed or implemented to increase ridership in addition to the planned extensions to the line. However, the short-term solutions have had a minimal effect on ridership, and experts have insisted that the extensions be built immediately, despite pronouncements that the system is steadily increasing ridership each year.

LRT-2 is integrated with the public transit system in Metro Manila, and passengers also take various forms of road-based public transport, such as buses and jeepneys, to and from a station to reach their intended destination. Although the line aimed to reduce traffic congestion and travel times along R-6 and portions of C-1, the transportation system has only been partially successful due to the rising number of motor vehicles and rapid urbanization. Expanding the network's revenue line to accommodate more passengers is set on tackling this problem.

The LRT-2 network

LRT-2 Train approaching Katipunan station

The line serves 11 stations on 13.8 kilometers (8.6 mi) of line.^[1] The rails are mostly elevated and erected either over or along the roads covered, with sections below ground before and after the Katipunan station, the only underground station on the line. The western terminus of the line is the Recto station at the intersection Recto Avenue and Rizal Avenue, while the eastern terminus of the line is the Santolan station along Marcos Highway in Barangay Calumpang, Marikina City. The rail line serves the cities that Radial Road 6 (Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda Street and Recto Avenue) passes through: Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina City and Pasig City (depot).

Three stations currently serve as interchanges between the lines operated by the LRMC, MRTC, and PNR. Pureza station is near the Santa Mesa station of the PNR; Araneta Center-Cubao is connected by a covered walkway to its namesake station of the MRT-3; and Recto station is connected via covered walkway to the Doroteo Jose station of the LRT-1.

The LRT-2 runs from 5:00 a.m. PST (UTC+8) until 10:00 p.m on weekdays, and 5:00 a.m. PST (UTC+8) until 9:30 pm during weekends and holidays. It operates almost every day of the year unless otherwise announced. Special schedules are announced via the PA system at every station and also in newspapers and other mass media. During Holy Week, a public holiday in the Philippines, the rail system is closed for annual maintenance, owing to fewer commuters and traffic around the metro. Normal operation resumes on Monday.^[3]

History

A westbound LRT-2 train on the viaduct near Marikina River towards Santolan station

J. Ruiz station platform area

During the construction of the first line of the Manila Light Rail Transit System in the early 1980s, Electrowatt Engineering Services of Zürich designed a comprehensive plan for metro service in Metro Manila. The plan—still used as the basis for planning new metro lines—consisted of a 150-kilometer (93 mi) network of rapid transit lines spanning all major corridors within 20 years, including a line on the Radial Road 6 alignment, one of the region's busiest road corridor.

The LRT-2 project officially began in 1996, twelve years after the opening of the LRT Line 1, with the granting of the soft loans for the line's construction. However, construction barely commenced, with the project stalled as the Philippine government conducted several investigations into alleged irregularities with the project's contract. The consortium of local and foreign companies, led by Marubeni Corporation, formed the Asia-Europe MRT Consortium (AEMC) which won the contract and restarted the project in 2000 after getting cleared from the allegations.

The AEMC was subsequently given the approval to commence construction by the DOTC and LRTA. The LRTA would have ownership of the system and assume all administrative functions, such as the regulation of fares and operations as well as the responsibility over construction and maintenance of the system and the procurement of spare parts for trains.

Construction started in March 1996 after the LRTA signed the first three packages of the agreement with Sumitomo Corporation delivering Package 1 in which covers the construction of the depot and its facilities, while the Hanjin-Itochu Joint Venture delivered packages 2 and 3 in which covers the substructure and the superstructure plus the stations respectively. The final package which was the package 4 agreement was signed after several delays with Asia-Europe MRT Consortium which was composed of Marubeni Corporation, Balfour Beatty, Toshiba, Daewoo Heavy Industries, and a local company which was D.M. Consuji Incorporated (DMCI) in which includes the communications and fares systems, vehicles, and trackworks.

During construction, the LRTA oversaw all the design, construction, equipping, testing, commissioning, and technical supervision of the project activities.

On April 5, 2003, the initial section, from Santolan to Araneta Center-Cubao was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with all remaining stations opening on April 5, 2004 except for Recto which opened on October 29, 2004. However, ridership was initially moderate yet still far below expectations, since the passenger volume in this line is not yet fully achieved.

To address passenger complaints on earlier train lines, the LRTA made sure during the construction phase that the stations are PWD (Person(s) with disability) friendly by putting up escalators and elevators for easier access, as well as making passenger fares at par with the other existing lines.

Station facilities, amenities, and services

Santolan station, the only LRT-2 station with an island platform.

The entrance to Santolan station as seen from the Marikina-Infanta Highway

Bridge linking the LRT-2 Recto station to the nearby LRT-1 Doroteo Jose station

With the exception of Katipunan station, all stations are above ground.

Safety and security

The LRT-2 has always presented itself as a safe system to travel in, which was affirmed in a 2004 World Bank paper prepared by Halcrow describing the overall state of metro rail transit operations in Manila as being "good".^[4]

With an estimated daily ridership of 200,000 passengers, the LRT-2 operates significantly below its designed capacity of between 570,000 and 580,000 passengers per day. Operating under capacity since 2004,^[5] government officials have admitted that system extensions are overdue, although in the absence of major investment in the system's expansion, LRT-2 management has resorted to experimenting with and/or implementing other solutions to maximize the use of the system, including having bus feeder lines.^[6]

For safety and security reasons, persons who are visibly intoxicated, insane and/or under the influence of controlled substances, persons carrying flammable materials and/or explosives, persons carrying bulky objects or items over 1.5 metres (5 ft) tall and/or wide, and persons bringing pets and/or other animals are prohibited from entering the LRT-2. Products in tin cans are also prohibited on board the LRT-2, citing the possibility of home-made bombs being concealed inside the cans.^[7]

In response to the Rizal Day bombings and the September 11th attacks, security has been stepped up on board the LRT-2. The Philippine National Police has a special police force on the LRT-2,^[8] and security police provided by private companies can be found in all LRT-2 stations. All LRT-2 stations have a head guard. Some stations may also have a deployed K9 bomb-sniffing dog. The LRT-2 also employs the use of closed-circuit television inside all stations to monitor suspicious activities and to assure safety and security aboard the line. Passengers are also advised to look out for thieves, who can take advantage of the crowding aboard LRT-2 trains. Wanted posters are posted at all LRT-2 stations to help commuters identify known thieves.

Fares and ticketing

A sample LRT-2 single journey ticket bearing the face of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo released in 2004.

The LRT-2, like the LRT-1 and MRT-3, uses a distance-based fare structure, with fares ranging from fifteen to twenty five pesos (34 to 56 U.S. cents), depending on the destination. Commuters who ride the LRT-2 are charged ₱15 for the first three stations, ₱20 for 4–7 stations and ₱25 for 8–10 stations or the entire line. Children below 1.02 metres (3 ft 4.4 in) (the height of a fare gate) may ride for free on the LRT-2

Rolling stock

Route Map above the door

Inside an LRT-2 train

The LRT-2 runs heavy rail vehicles made in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem powered by Toshiba made VVVF inverters in a four-car configuration. The trains came in together with the fourth package during the system's construction. Trains have a capacity of 1,628 passengers, which is more than the normal capacity of LRT-1 and MRT-3 rolling stock.

LRT-2 trains prominently use wrap advertising.

In 2017, the entire train fleet was retrofitted with the Passenger Assist Railway Display System, a passenger information system powered by LCD screens installed near the ceiling of the train that shows news, advertisements, current train location, arrivals and station layouts.

Rolling stock	First-generation 2000 series[12][13]
Image
Year	2003
Manufacturer	Hyundai Rotem and Toshiba
Number Built (cars)	72 (32 cars in service[14], 4 cars in routine maintenance[13])
Length	22,500 mm (23,800 mm w/ Couplers)
Width	3,200 mm
Height	4,100 mm ( Pantograph lock down)
Body Material	Stainless steel
Empty Weight	152,000 kg (4 car Train set)[15]
Configuration	MC-M-M-MC
Capacity	1628 passengers (232 seated 1396 standing @ 7 passengers m²)[13]
Doors	1400 mm wide ; Interior sliding type; 5-doors/side
Traction System	Gear coupling(WN) Drive
Traction Power	1,500 V Single Arm Pantograph
Traction Controller	IGBT-VVVF Type
Traction Motor	120kW AC Induction Motor
Top Speed	80 km/h
Status	In Service

Plans

East Extension Project

Construction of the viaduct for the East Extension Project (29 November 2016)

The LRT Line 2 East Extension Project, is the currently under-construction eastward extension of LRT Line 2, which adds 4-kilometer (2.5 mi) of new line, starting from the eastern terminus of Santolan Station in Marikina up to Masinag in Antipolo. The extension calls for two additional stations, one is in Barangay San Roque in Marikina near Sta. Lucia East Grandmall; and another in Masinag, in Barangay Mayamot, Antipolo near SM City Masinag. The National Economic and Development Authority approved the 2.27 billion pesos extension in September 2012.^[16] Groundbreaking was held on June 9, 2015 and as of April 2017, the viaduct is now complete, which is package one of the three packages which are part of the east extension project. Meanwhile, Package 2 is the design and construction of the two additional stations, which Package 3 is the design and build of electro-mechanical system of the railway, which is from October 2017 until April 2019. The groundbreaking for the construction of the two stations was held last May 30, 2017. The construction of the two stations is set to be completed by August 2018. In April 2017, Secretary Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transportation or DOTr, announced in the Dutertenomics Forum that the targeted time for the completion of the east extension project is set to be at April 2019. The project aims to accommodate an additional 80,000 passengers and reduce traffic congestion along Marcos Highway. When the project is completed, it will reduce travel time from Recto to Masinag from 3 hours to only 40 minutes.

See also

References

External links

• LRTA-Manila Light Rail Transit System: Official Line 2 website