The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) are actively looking for funding to buy additional trainsets for LRT Line 2, a key move aimed at cutting down long lines that have formed at stations as passenger numbers keep growing. Right now, only eight trainsets are running on the line—one is having its Train Operating Control Panel upgraded, while another remains under repair—creating a gap between what commuters need and what the system can provide.
While securing funds for new trains is the long-term solution, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and LRTA to work together on a temporary plan: issuing special permits to public utility buses. These buses would run the full LRT-2 route between Antipolo Station and Recto Station, making stops at all 13 stations along the way, to give passengers a reliable backup option.
“We are continuing to seek funding for the additional trains needed for LRT-2. Some of our existing trains also require upgrades. Meanwhile, we are exploring other ways to ease queues at stations and assist our commuters,” Secretary Lopez explained. The proposal will also look at how the service will operate, ensure it follows existing rules, and set fair fares for riders, with the main goal of reducing crowding especially during busy morning and evening hours while the government works to secure the necessary funds for more train cars.
