Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) marked a significant milestone in 2024, serving 135.9 million passengers, a 5.3% increase from the 129 million reported in 2023.
The MRT-3’s daily ridership also grew by 5.1%, with an average of 375,474 passengers per day last year, compared to 357,198 in 2023.
MRT-3 general manager Oscar Bongon attributed the increase to the MRT-3’s consistent reliability and efficiency, emphasizing that the train line remains a preferred transportation option for Metro Manila residents.
“In 2024, as the MRT-3 celebrated its silver anniversary, the line remained a trusted choice for passengers in Metro Manila,” Bongon said in a statement on Monday, January 6.
This efficiency came in the wake of MRT-3’s rehabilitation, completed in December 2021, which doubled the rail service’s operating speed from 30 kilometers per hour (kph) to 60 kph. To further ensure reliability, MRT-3 also extended its maintenance contract with Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the original builder and maintenance provider, through 2025.
Bongon also highlighted the train system’s punctuality, with travel times maintained at a steady 30 minutes between North Avenue Station and Taft Avenue Station. During peak hours, MRT-3 operated with 18 trains running at intervals of 3.5 to 4 minutes.
Additionally, the MRT-3 provided free rides to 938,412 passengers through various programs, including the Libreng Sakay initiative, under the Office of the President.