THE railway regulator has started the replacement works for the conveyance system of Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 to provide a better riding experience to the commuting public.
In a statement, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Reynaldo Berroya said his group has started replacing 32 defective elevators and 13 nonoperational escalators of the train system.
Berroya said fixing the conveyance system at busy stations—Recto, Legarda, Cubao, Katipunan and Santolan—is being prioritized, as there are more passengers boarding and alighting at these stations.
“We are hoping to restore the elevators and escalators at Recto and Santolan stations next month. However, timely completion and use of these conveyances will depend on the arrival of the equipment and parts and issuance of permit to operate by the respective local governments,” he said.
The newest of the overhead railway systems in Metro Manila, LRT 2 has 32 elevators and 58 escalators. As of today, none of the elevators work, and only 31 of 58 escalators are functional. The remaining escalators will be fixed or replaced in the next phase of the project.
“With the complete restoration of the conveyance system in September this year, better accessibility, convenience and safety at stations will be experienced by the riding public, particularly by the elderly, persons with disability, pregnant and women with children,” Berroya said.
A component of the ongoing multiyear rehabilitation program of LRTA, the replacement of the conveyance system, which costs roughly P138 million, is being handled by Ma-an Construction Corp. and IFE Elevators.