LRMC launches new beep™ card promo, announces free LRT-1 rides on Independence Day

Private operator of LRT-1 Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) joins the nation in celebrating the 124th Philippine Independence Day on 12 June 2022 with special promotional offers for commuters.

Starting 12 June 2022, the total cost of a new beep™ card with load will be PHP50 from the previous total amount of PHP100. The cost of the beep™ card itself remains at PHP30, but the minimum load required for new beep™ card purchases has been reduced to PHP20 from the previous amount of PHP70. Passengers may avail of this special offer until 30 September 2022 at LRT-1 teller booths only. beep™ cards have a validity of four (4) years, which is subject to extension upon request at the LRT-1 stations.

“We are launching this initiative to make beep™ card more accessible, more affordable for budget-conscious passengers. Through this promo, they can now buy a reloadable Stored Value Card (SVC) or beep™ at half of the previous total cost of new beep™ card with load. This aligns with LRMC’s Tap2Ride campaign which aims to promote the use of contactless transactions in LRT-1 for safety and convenience,” LRMC Head of Corporate Communications and Customer Relations Jacqueline S. Gorospe said.

LRMC, Alstom, and Bouygues partner with Binhi Foundation to provide access to quality education

LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) further beefs up its partnership with Binhi English Literacy Foundation, a non-profit and non-governmental organization, as it engaged its partner companies Alstom and Bouygues in supporting more classes for its advocacy of nation-building through quality education.

Started in School Year 2020 - 2021, the partnership between LRMC and Binhi English Literacy Foundation began with one class at Marcela Marcelo Elementary School in Pasay City being supported for the Beginning Reading Program. The primary objectives were to improve the student’s comprehension skills and develop love for reading that will inspire students to do better in school and subsequently, improve their economic situation. The program resulted to a 40.8% improvement in average scores for the reading progress of students.

LRT-1 launches #LightRailTourism Photo Contest to inspire city travel

We all miss travelling – exploring destinations, revisiting favorite spots, and even discovering new ones. With this in mind, LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) is launching #LightRailTourism, a photo contest to support the gradual recovery of local tourism within the metro, one click at a time.

Keeping in mind the minimum safety health protocols, the public is invited to share snapshots of interesting or unique spots in Metro Manila, which can be easily accessed by riding the LRT-1. 

You can choose from three categories: #LRT1Mamasyal for destinations and attractions, #LRT1MagFoodTrip for the delicious and mouthwatering food from the city, or #LRT1MagShopping for the best bargains and finds from different shopping centers.

Upload the photo on your personal Facebook account, add a caption, and don’t forget to include the hashtags #LightRailTourism, #ikotMNL, #LRT1, and the hashtag specifying its category. Include a location and tag LRMC’s Facebook page. Make sure it is a public post too!

LRMC achieves milestone of 15 million safe man-hours

Upholds its commitment to fostering the safety and well-being of employees

Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of LRT-1, has reached another milestone of 15 million safe man-hours without a Lost Time Injury or LTI among its employees.

LTI is an injury suffered by an employee on the job which results in a fatality, permanent disability, or time lost from work. This reference is recognized globally as a key indicator of a company’s safety performance.

LRMC cancels LRT-1 service suspension on April 24-25

Private operator of LRT-1 Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) announces that LRT-1 operations will no longer be suspended on 24 – 25 April 2021 as majority of the planned maintenance works have already been completed ahead of schedule.

LRMC previously announced that two weekends in April will be needed to complete the remaining maintenance of trains, stations, and various systems including overhead catenary system started during the Holy Week. Major rehabilitation works were performed to continuously ensure the safety and reliability of the LRT-1 system.

LRMC Chief Operating Officer Enrico Benipayo said, "We recognize the role of public transport in ensuring the mobility of essential services and understand the needs of our commuters this pandemic. Our Engineering team did their best to accelerate and compress activities through improved planning and coordination. LRT-1 will no longer need another 1-weekend shutdown and will be back to serve our passengers this coming weekend."

No LRT-1 operations on April 17-18, 24-25

Temporary weekend shutdown for continuous rehabilitation activities

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) announces the temporary suspension of LRT-1 operations for two weekends in April 2021 to continue the maintenance works needed for a better and improved LRT-1 experience.

The shutdown on April 17 – 18 and April 24 – 25, 2021 (Saturday & Sunday) will allow LRMC to complete the remaining maintenance and rehabilitation works started during the Holy Week. The works to be carried out during this period would cover the maintenance of trains, stations, and various systems including the scheduled replacement of overhead catenary wires. The additional days will also accelerate the preparations needed for the commercial use of the new Generation-4 train sets in Q4 2021.

LRMC implements adjusted LRT-1 operating hours

In support of the government’s announcement of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) will implement a new schedule for the last train service on March 29 and 30, 2021.

LRT-1 will be operating from 4:30AM until 9:30PM (Northbound) and until 9:45PM (Southbound) on March 29 - 30. The adjusted schedule for the last train is in consideration of the government’s curfew from 6PM – 5AM and will allow LRT-1 Operations personnel to prepare and travel home safely.

As previously announced in the Holy Week schedule advisory, LRT-1 operations will be temporarily suspended from March 31 (Holy Wednesday) to April 4, 2021 (Easter Sunday) for the annual maintenance and rehabilitation works to facilitate continuous improvements to the LRT-1 system. LRMC has also coordinated with the Department of Transportation for the deployment of public utility buses along the alignment of LRT-1 to support essential workers with additional means of transportation during this period.

LRMC announces LRT-1 2021 Holy Week schedule

In order to facilitate necessary upgrades and continuous improvements to the LRT-1 system, private operator and maintenance provider Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) is announcing a temporary suspension of LRT-1 operations from March 31 (Holy Wednesday) to April 4, 2021 (Easter Sunday) for its annual maintenance. LRT-1 will continue to be operational on March 29 and 30 following its regular service hours.

“The work we will need to do on our lines is to ensure that our train system continues to perform at its best. We are doing everything we can for a better and smoother commute on the LRT-1,” said Enrico R. Benipayo, LRMC Chief Operating Officer.

For more updates and info on the LRT-1, follow LRMC on Facebook at facebook.com/officialLRT1, Twitter at @officialLRT1, or download the ikotMNL mobile app for free on Google Play and App Store.

LRMC welcomes new LRT-1 Generation-4 trains

Private operator of LRT-1 Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), has announced that the first of its Generation-4 (Gen-4) train sets arrived in the Philippines last 18 January 2021. It was formally launched to the public on 26 January 2021 at the Manila Harbor Center in an unveiling ceremony attended by distinguished guests from both the private and public sectors.

The state-of-the-art passenger train sets measure 106 meters in length and 2.59 meters in width, with maximum design speeds of up to 70 kph. Each train set consists of 4 light rail vehicles (LRVs) and can accommodate over 1,300 passengers per trip. The 4th Gen LRVs have destination signs to inform passengers if the trains heading north or south. Inside, the driver station features a modern design, and there is monitor that shows the temperature inside each LRV. The new train set is PWD-friendly with special areas for wheelchairs.

LRMC announces LRT-1 schedule for December holidays

In observance of the holiday season, LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) will implement shortened service hours on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve), which were both declared as special non-working days by the Philippine Government under Proclamation No. 845.

On Christmas Eve (December 24), the LRT-1’s operating schedule will be from 4:30 AM to 8:00 PM both bounds, and 4:30 AM to 7:00 PM both bounds for New Year's Eve (December 31).

LRT-1 will continue to serve passengers on 25 December 2020 (Christmas Day), 30 December 2020 (Rizal Day), and 1 January 2021 (New Year’s Day) following the regular weekends/holiday schedule.

LRMC’s ikotMNL app now with contact tracing feature and Sakay.ph navigation

LRT-1 private operator and maintenance provider, Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), continues to pioneer digitalization for rail transport and find ways to enhance the commuting experience in Metro Manila.

Using the ikotMNL mobile app, LRT-1 passengers on trains and at the stations may activate the contact tracing feature via Bluetooth LE technology that allows detection of other passengers nearby. The contact tracing feature is automated, anonymous, and privacy-first by design. With the integration of this feature, LRT-1 passengers who may have come into close proximity with a fellow passenger who reports or tags himself later on as diagnosed positive with COVID-19 will be notified by government authorities when the respective contact tracing procedure begins. This is part of LRMC'S initiatives to keep reassuring the public of a safe railway, as well as help government authorities in fighting further spread of COVID-19 by addressing the challenges of manual contact tracing and providing safe and anonymous log interactions. 

LRMC rolls out thermal screening system at LRT-1 stations

As part of its serious commitment to enforce health and safety measures against COVID-19, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) has deployed new thermal cameras at select high-traffic LRT-1 stations for use in entry screening. LRT-1 resumed its operations last 1 June 2020 after receiving the green light from the government under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) guidelines.

The forward-looking infrared (FLIR) set-up consists of a thermal camera attached to a tripod and connected to a monitor. The camera detects the infrared energy invisible to the human eye that people and objects emit. An automatic alarm is triggered with red color notification if temperature is higher than the settings. The FLIR thermal scanning system is currently used in hospitals, establishments, and schools in Taiwan –one of the countries recognized for their most effective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also the same system deployed at Taipei Metro.

LRMC ramps up safety measures for operations restart New guidelines for LRT-1 passengers

Preparations are in full swing as the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) anticipates the resumption of the LRT-1 operations. This is after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) released new safety guidelines for mass public transportation once the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) enforced in Metro Manila is lifted.

To ensure the welfare and protection of both passengers and employees, LRT-1 private operator LRMC will implement the following health and safety measures to fight the spread of COVID-19 once it re-opens its trains to the public.

Take this easy virtual ikotMNL “tour” from your home

Thanks to the internet, it’s still possible to bring home the fun of the city

The quarantine may have us inside our homes for our own safety, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the things you could do and places you could visit by taking the LRT-1!

Those who have been wanting to take a tour of Manila and the wonderful spots and experiences it has to offer don’t need to worry anymore, because it’s now more possible than ever to take in the best of the city through the wonders of technology. Yes, you can “visit” and enjoy it from home.