How the MRT3 Express Train system works

Before the implementation of the new “Express train” scheme of the MRT-3 (Yellow Line) tomorrow, let’s have a look on its route and schedule.

Credits to the owner

The Express train scheme will run from May 7 until May 20. Southbound route will start from May 7 to 20 from 7 AM up to 9 AM only. On the other hand, Northbound route will begin only from May 14 to 20 with a schedule of 5 PM to 7 PM. Each Express train begins from the end-station and will only have five (5) stops.

Here is a listing of the Express train routes:

CODE 1S
– North Avenue (end-station)
– Quezon Avenue
– Buendia
– Ayala Avenue
– Magallanes
– Taft Avenue

CODE 2S
– North Avenue (end-station)
– GMA-Kamuning
– Buendia
– Ayala Avenue
– Magallanes
– Taft Avenue

CODE 3S
– North Avenue (end-station)
– Araneta-Cubao
– Buendia
– Ayala Avenue
– Magallanes
– Taft Avenue

Express trains will only traverse the Yellow Line on weekdays except holidays.
Be sure to ride the right train because these express trains will run together with regular schedule trains. Let’s all hope that this scheme will work well.

Editor’s note: MRT-3 only has two tracks except at Shaw Blvd and the area before Taft Avenue. So these express trains might not be “express” at all. We shall see. In the mean time, get ready to squeeze your arse in the MRT.

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Daniel Morial

This article was contributed by Daniel Morial, a film school graduate and technology enthusiast. He's the geeky encyclopedia and salesman among his friends for anything tech.

http://www.yugatech.com

19 Comments

hawkee.com says:

10 years ago

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e30ernest says:

11 years ago

There would definitely be bottlenecks due to the limited number of crossovers. Express trains simply weren’t considered when they built the MRT tracks.

I think a better solution would be to simply lengthen the trains by adding more cars. The station platforms were designed to accommodate longer trains. Longer trains would be less confusing to passengers, allow for more to ride per run, would lessen track congestion (because one train can take the load of the current multiple trains) and would save passengers time.

I have a feeling cost is the main reason why they wouldn’t just run with longer trains. While it is the better solution for decongesting the MRT during rush hour, the longer trains would cost more to run during off-peak hours. If they can’t fill it with passengers, then they’ll be operating at a loss.

At present they simply limit the number of trains during off-peak hours to compensate for less passengers. They could probably do the same with longer trains but the wait time might be substantially longer.
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Mikoy says:

11 years ago

sana maging effective maski papano. I’m routing for it…..gogo MRT
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Easy E says:

11 years ago

Hoy Zobel, kung maka-“damn” ka naman sa sarili mong bansa. Lumipat ka ng bansa kung kaya mo, ulol ka. Hindi ka nga maka-travel sa ibang bansa eh.
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Zobel says:

11 years ago

The MRT works? Anyhoo, why is everything in this damn country such an eyesore?
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unlicomments says:

11 years ago

@Zobel…Zobel…Zo dumb.
Daves says:

11 years ago

@AA – Nail. Head. Bang.
AA says:

11 years ago

Because of people like you who always complain but do not do anything to contribute to society

Bob says:

11 years ago

I don’t understand how it’ll work. I was watching Balitanghali earlier and Maki Pulido reported that the express and regular trains will run alternately. So in short, the express train will have to wait for the regular train to load and unload on each station. It’s not express at all unless they have a separate track.
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lrtrider says:

11 years ago

@witchcraft There really are switches on the tracks, but are those switches contingently placed on the spots/areas on the whole rail which will enable switching of trains on those switch rails. There will still be bottlenecks if ever, unless MRT already engineered the placing of switches prior to the implementation of this trial system.
witchcraft says:

11 years ago

You’ll probably notice some crossover switches along the entire length of the MRT3 track. Here’s Wikipedia’s entry on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch#Crossover

Theoretically, the express train can cross over to the other parallel track, overtake the regular train, then switch back to its proper track. No need for a “third track” running the entire length.
DefinitelyGrumpy says:

11 years ago

Express Train != Express Lane

not unless may nakikita sina @mrtrider at @kjata na lane na hindi natin nakikita. technically wrong kasi na tawagin na express train kasi di rin naman express ang andar niya kasi it’ll still run with the normal trains.
moriartea says:

11 years ago

Mahal na kjata,

Be sure to ride the right train because these express trains will RUN TOGETHER WITH regular schedule trains..

ansabe?? malinaw??
moriartea says:

11 years ago

@mrtrider kaya nga.. if alternate ang express at normal train, pano magoovertake yung express train sa normal na train?

so kung Express Code 1S ang una lumabas, pagkatapos nun normal train(all stops), tapos sumunod ehh Express code 2S.. pano yun?? magoovertake yung 2S dun sa normal? kasi diba sabi mo nga dadaan yung normal sa kamuning-cubao-santolan-ortigas-shaw-boni-guadalupe?

panu makakarating ng buendia agad si 2S kung nasa harapan nya yung normal na nagsasakay sa all stations???
Kjata says:

11 years ago

Mahal na Bob,

Magandang araw! malinaw na nakasaad na ang south bound ay magsisimula ng 7am to 9am lamang. Samantala ang north bound ay 5pm to 7pm. So makatuwid 9:01am to 4:59pm regular train at lahat ng station hihintuan.

Maraming salamat po.

Peace!

Lubos na gumagalang,

Kjata
mrtrider says:

11 years ago

basa basa din kasi.. kita mo naman sa taas gaps.
1S.. nagload sa Q.Ave next stop is Buendia na so meaning di na yan magstop sa kamuning-cubao-santolan-ortigas-shaw-boni-guadalupe.. siguro naman kahit alternate yan ng dun sa di express codes di magkakaroon ng bottleneck unless nasa dulo na (taft and north ave. wag masyadong literal sa express..