LRMC bets on new stations, upgrades to lift ridership to 450,000 by year-end

THE Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), expects to surpass its pre-pandemic ridership by the end of the year, driven by new stations and ongoing improvements.

“Right now, we are at 440,000 (daily) on average, that is the equivalent to our pre-covid numbers. By the end of the year, our target is to hit 450,000 daily ridership,” LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Enrico R. Benipayo told reporters on the sidelines of the company’s 10^th anniversary.

Mr. Benipayo said that since LRMC took over operations of LRT-1, the company has implemented critical improvements, including the opening of new stations and the deployment of new-generation train sets.

The opening of the LRT-1 Cavite extension in 2024 is one of the key drivers of ridership growth, he added.

In 2019, LRMC’s ridership averaged around 450,000 daily passengers, dropping to 350,000-370,000 in 2023. By November 2024, just before the opening of the Cavite Extension Phase 1, daily ridership stood at 323,000.

The first phase of the Cavite Extension was projected to add roughly 80,000 daily passengers, potentially bringing ridership to about 403,000.

“Last year, we were able to open a big extension, and you will notice that the facilities are more inclusive, and more modernized. We are committing to improve the older stations of the LRT in the next few years,” he said, noting that these future station improvements will further boost ridership growth.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) holds a 35.8% stake in LRMC through its unit Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., while Sumitomo Corp. owns 19.2% and Macquarie Investments Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd. holds 10%. LRMC is a joint venture of MPIC, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. (a unit of Ayala Corp.), Sumitomo, and Macquarie Investments Holdings.

LRMC assumed operations and maintenance of LRT-1 in September 2015 under a P65-billion, 32-year concession agreement with the Light Rail Transit Authority and the Department of Transportation.

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