LRT 1 operator moving to better passenger flow

THE Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), the private operator of LRT 1, has stepped up its drive to enhance the passenger experience along the rail line through several measures to improve crowd flow and accessibility at its PITX (Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange) station. LRMC President and CEO Enrico Benipayo said in a statement emailed to The Manila Times that it has been closely coordinating with government grantors, the Light Rail Transit Authority and the Department of Transportation, on comprehensive operational upgrades to deliver a smoother, more seamless journey for commuters.

To manage peak passenger volumes and ease congestion, LRMC is implementing targeted measures across key operational areas, he stressed. Benipayo said the LRMC is adding new ticket counters alongside existing booths to expand capacity for commuters buying single journey tickets (SJTs) and reloading their stored value cards (SVCs).

“We are also strategically repositioning ticket-vending machines throughout the station to better accommodate dense crowds while giving passengers more options for purchasing and topping up their cards,” the LRMC chief executive said. Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

In addition, the private operator is reconfiguring and relocating turnstile gates to curb queuing by streamlining passengers entering and exiting the trains. LRMC and its grantors aim to fully implement these station enhancements within the last quarter of the year, he said. Beyond these efforts, the LRMC chief said it is maintaining ongoing coordination and discussions with the management of the adjacent landport and PITX to strengthen operational synergies and enhance multimodal transit integration for passengers transferring between bus and rail services.

To further improve station access, it said it continues to operate a dedicated express lane for SVC users with sufficient load balance while keeping regular lanes open for those purchasing SJTs and reloading their SVCs. Benipayo cited the shared dedication of LRMC and its government partners to transforming LRT 1’s daily operations.

“Our commitment to our commuters goes beyond providing safe and reliable transport; it is about continuously elevating every aspect of their journey,” he pointed out. Whether through immediate deployment like satellite booths or long-term optimizations, the LRMC remains dedicated to delivering a seamless, efficient and comfortable travel experience for the commuting public, he added.