The project to extend Light Railway Transit 1 (LRT 1) service to Sucat, Parañaque, could start serving commuters by the end of 2021 if work on site starts by February 2019, and the right-of-way (ROW) is free and clear by May 2019.
“We are just waiting for the complete ROW and government approvals, especially on the delayed increase in our fares from around an average of P20 to around P25 depending on the distance traveled, which is basically the same as bus fares,” Juan Alfonso, president of the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), operator of LRT1, said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.
He added: “The main difference is we can bring our riders from Baclaran to Sucat or vice versa in 15 minutes, rush hour or not, and even if the roads are flooded. We are traffic-free.”
Alfonso said its contract with the government provided that the fares be increased automatically every two years starting in 2016 to allow LRMC to have the funds to properly maintain and operate the line. The railways operator wants the P5 fare increase to cover both the 2016 and 2018 adjustments.
Without the increase, LRMC said, it might not be able to borrow from banks the funds needed to build the extension.
“The banks want to make sure we can repay them, and the only way this can be attained is for us to be able to earn enough through higher fares,” Alfonso said.
“We are just waiting for the complete ROW and government approvals, especially on the delayed increase in our fares from around an average of P20 to around P25 depending on the distance traveled, which is basically the same as bus fares,” Juan Alfonso, president of the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), operator of LRT1, said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.
He added: “The main difference is we can bring our riders from Baclaran to Sucat or vice versa in 15 minutes, rush hour or not, and even if the roads are flooded. We are traffic-free.”
Alfonso said its contract with the government provided that the fares be increased automatically every two years starting in 2016 to allow LRMC to have the funds to properly maintain and operate the line. The railways operator wants the P5 fare increase to cover both the 2016 and 2018 adjustments.
Without the increase, LRMC said, it might not be able to borrow from banks the funds needed to build the extension.
“The banks want to make sure we can repay them, and the only way this can be attained is for us to be able to earn enough through higher fares,” Alfonso said.
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