LRT 1 breaks passenger record

MANILA, Philippines - The Light Rail Transit’s Line 1 recorded the highest number of passengers in a month last October, the LRT Authority (LRTA) said yesterday.

LRTA officer-in-charge Emerson Benitez said in a statement that the LRT 1 serviced a record 15.033 million passengers in October, breaking the previous record of 13.559 million in the same month last year.

Benitez traced the 11 percent increase in the ridership in LRT 1, representing 1.47 million passengers, to the savings and convenience given to the riding public. He said the surge in ridership at the LRT 1 could also be attributed to the high cost of fuel and traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, LRT officials appealed for cooperation and understanding from passengers who use the railway to shop in Baclaran and Divisoria.

Benitez said wrapped gifts would be opened for inspection at station entrances and baggage exceeding two feet in length or width would not be allowed on the train. – Lawrence Agcaoili, Rainier Allan Ronda