MANILA, PHILIPPINES: The minimum fare for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) will rise to P10 once the train operator implements a zoning fare system in its 13 stations which is also expected to keep the current maximum fare at P15.

MRT3 officials said the new fare scheme would reduce long queues in the stations and also allow the train operator to maximize the use of its ticket vending machines.

"This is just a restructuring of the fares. We just need the approval of the DoTC (Department of Transportation and Communications)," said MRT3 General Manager Roberto Lastimoso told reporters yesterday.

The new fare scheme is still under study, but it would basically create six zones within the 13 stations of the MRT3, officials said.

The current minimum fare is P9.50, with a 50-centavo increment per station. Travelling the full stretch of the system from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City costs P15.

Under the new scheme, the increment would be P1 per zone, and the maximum fare would be kept at P15. Officials yesterday could not agree on the number of zones in the new scheme. If the new minimum fare is P10 and the maximum would be maintained at P15, there would be a total of six zones based on a P1 increment per zone.

The MRT3 will also start using about 30 ticket vending machines, which have been stalled and unused at various stations.

"They have been there for several years. They cost about P1 million each," Mr. Lastimoso said.

REVENUE HIKE

MRT3 spokesman Mariano Gui said the new ticketing scheme is expected give the train operator a revenue increase of only 2%.

"There is hardly an increase in fare, but queueing would be faster so more passengers can use the trains," he said.

Trains of the MRT3 carries about 400,000 passengers daily with 20 trains travelling at peak hours and 12 at non-peak hours.

Officials of the MRT3 earlier said it will open its bidding for a $100-million capacity expansion project for the acquisition of 48 additional cars.

The increase in coaches is expected to cure the MRT3's perennial overcapacity problem, which results in power fluctuation and delays of the train trips.

Mr. Lastimoso earlier said the ridership is expected to reach 600,000 by 2006, hence, the need for a capacity expansion.

The MRT3 has been suffering technical and mechanical problems lately due to the overcrowding of trains. It experiences an average of three service interruptions monthly, but MRT3 officials said it affects less than 0.01% of its passengers.

MRT3 consultant Jacques Mornier earlier said increasing the number of coaches would allow for the expansion to four cars per train and a faster turnover with only 2.5 minutes headway from the current three minutes.

There is still no timetable for the expansion, but Mr. Lastimoso said the proposal is already at the technical working group of the DoTC.

Source:
Business World