LRT-2 posts highest ridership since 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) grew its passenger footprint and fare collection by double digits in the first half of the year due to the growing demand for metropolitan transport.

Based on records from the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the LRT-2 increased passenger traffic by 12 percent to 25.89 million from January to June, from 23.18 million a year ago.

This marks the highest first semester ridership in the LRT-2 since the pandemic, closing in on the 2019 level of 29.94 million during the same period.

Further, monthly ridership in the LRT-2 has never gone below four million since July 2023’s 3.81 million. As was expected, LRTA has seen more and more commuters take the railway, driven by the resumption of onsite schooling and work.

In turn, LRTA’s fare revenues went up by 31 percent to P622.61 million in the first semester, from P476.2 million a year ago. Similarly, this marks the highest first semester collection for LRTA, surpassing the 2019 total of P575.61 million between January and June.

LRTA’s fare income ballooned to P1.1 billion last year, exceeding the pre-pandemic high of P1.07 billion in 2019.

Alongside this, ridership surged to 49.43 million on the reopening of economic activities, but has yet to revert to the pre-pandemic level of 56.98 million.

For 2024, LRTA projects that LRT-2 ridership would reach 50.7 million, anticipating a boost from the return of in-person classes and work.

LRTA, on its own, is required to generate as much capital as it can to operate and maintain the LRT-2. The agency receives subsidies from the government every year, but it also has to raise funds both from rail and non-rail businesses.

For instance, LRTA wants to pursue the LRT-2 West Extension Project that would expand the railway by three stations to Tutuban, Divisoria and Pier 4. The project is estimated to cost P10.12 billion as it will also include the purchase of additional train cars to support future demand.

The agency, however, has yet to land a multi-year contracting authority from the Department of Budget and Management, ensuring that funding is set aside for the project every year.

Latest financial report showed the LRTA turned in a surplus of P2 billion in the first quarter, from a deficit of P1.08 billion a year ago, on the entry of fresh assets in its balance sheet.