Elevated transit systems to close earlier

MANILA, Philippines - Two elevated rail transit systems will close much earlier on the eve of Christmas and New Year for maintenance works. In a statement Thursday, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said the maintenance works would cover all physical facilities, rolling stocks, carriageways, signaling system and catenaries. For Line 1, the last commercial train will depart from Baclaran in Pasay City at 8 p.m. and Monumento, Quezon City at 8:30 p.m., while the last commercial train for Line 2 will depart from Santolan, Pasig City at 8:30 p.m. and Recto, Manila at 9 p.m. on Dec. 24. The operating schedule for Dec. 31 will be shorter by an hour. The light rail transit lines, which close at 11 p.m. on weekdays, close an hour earlier on weekends and holidays. This same schedule will be followed for the coming special non-working holidays from Dec. 25 until Jan. 1, the LRTA said. LRTA Administrator Melquiades A. Robles said based on historical data, they are expecting low ridership during the eve of Christmas and New Year. "We all know that many of our countrymen celebrate Christmas and New Year with fireworks which might affect our operations or injure some passengers on their way to or from the stations," he said. - BusinessWorld