‘Articulated bus’ starts dry run on EDSA

MANILA, Philippines - The “articulated bus,” that is 19 meters long and has a seating capacity for 100 passengers, started its dry run yesterday along EDSA. 

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Winston Ginez said the proposed articulated bus system is a feasible project to ease the long lines at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

He said they intend to have the system in place before the school opening in June.

“Based on the dry run, I think it’s doable. It can be a good alternative to the MRT and it’s also a way of introducing new buses in our transport system,” Ginez told The STAR in an interview.

The dry run of the articulated bus was initiated by the Lina Group of Companies.

If approved, the articulated bus will run from MRT North EDSA station in Quezon City to MRT Taft station in Pasay City.

It aims to provide commuters taking the train system an alternative mode of transportation.

The articulated bus will be exclusively for southbound passengers.

It will pass through EDSA underpass and overpass, make stops at Buendia, Ayala and Taft stations and finally take its turn at the SM Mall of Asia rotunda before ending its run near NAIA Terminal 2.

The MRT has a capacity of 350,000 passengers per day. However, an estimated 560,000 passengers ride the train daily.

Ginez said they will study further the application made by the proponent of the articulated bus scheme.

He said the articulated bus will travel faster along EDSA than an ordinary bus.

“It’s route will not be the usual one taken by an ordinary bus. It’s just to alleviate the long queues at the MRT stations,” he said.

Based on yesterday’s dry run, Ginez said its travel time would take an hour and 30 minutes.