The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is open to extending train operating hours, but the move is far from a done deal.
While longer hours could ease the daily grind for Metro Manila commuters, the challenge lies in ensuring the system remains reliable — something that hinges on the approval of maintenance providers and operators.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday said he supports lengthening the operating hours of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems to improve the commuting experience. However, he acknowledged that maintenance remains a key concern.
“We need to demand longer hours. Of course, the issue is going to be maintenance. So I'm going to have to talk to them, the one who's maintaining this, and see what's wrong,” Dizon said.
“I understand, we have to maintain, of course, we don't want trains stopping again, like in the past. But we always have to find a way to push the envelope a little bit. And this is all for passenger welfare. We want to make the commuting public easier,” he added.
Dizon said extending train operations by at least two hours could significantly ease commuters’ daily struggles — a shift from the previous administration’s stance in December, when it ruled out longer hours due to maintenance concerns.
MRT-3 operates from 4:36 AM to 10:11 PM, while LRT-1 runs from 4:30 AM to 10:15 PM on weekdays, with shorter weekend hours. LRT-2, on the other hand, runs from 5 AM to 9:30 PM.
Any extension of these hours will require coordination with operators and maintenance teams to prevent disruptions and ensure the reliability of the train systems.