How long are the lines at the MRT station during Monday rush hour?

by Pacifiqa Staff

 

The MRT-3 has been in hot water lately because of numerous incidents that keep us wondering whether or not taking the train is convenient—or safe—at all. A quick recap: the train derailed and barreled through the “safety” barrier at Taft Station, injuring at least 35 people, and just recently, the train continued running even with one of its doors open.

To experience what MRT passengers go through every day, several Malacañang officials have taken the #MRTRushHourChallenge. Among them are Department of Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya, who rode the MRT when it wasn’t actually rush hour, and even used the coaches designated for women and children; Undersecretary Abigail Valte; Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda; and Senator Grace Poe, who took the train from North Avenue Station to Taft Avenue Station at the peak of the morning rush hour.

Senator Poe described her MRT ride as “pleasant,” but regular MRT passengers know that riding the train could be anything but. Sometimes, it’s lining up for a ticket that could be really tortuous, especially every Monday, the start of the workweek. Senator Poe herself had to line up for 40 minutes to buy her ticket.

Want to know how long the lines get on a typical Monday morning? We made a handy guide for you. Data used here was gathered from two Monday observations at the North Avenue Station. Distances marked are from the start of the line to the first step of the staircase. Here’s to hoping you can strategize better on your next MRT rush hour adventure.

 

 

Notes from observation: The authorities of the MRT North Avenue station added entry points to the platform, allowing passengers to use the staircases under the railway to enter. With the new queuing system, passengers’ waiting time were shortened from previous Mondays. They also added more covered walkways outside the station, and mist nozzles on the platforms that offer partial relief to the passengers.