The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that the LRT-2 Extension will start operating in June. It will cater to train riders in Eastern Metro Manila and Rizal as the two new LRT-2 stations are situated in Marikina and Antipolo.
LRT-2 Marikina and Antipolo stations to open in June [Photo: LRT-2 Facebook]
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade inspected the two new stations together with Light Rail Transit Authority-LRT2 Administrator Reynaldo Berroya. Tugade shared that commuters have been looking forward to the opening of the Marikina and Antipolo LRT-2 stations. With that, Tugade said in a statement that the two new LRT-2 stations will be operational starting June 22.
"Our countrymen have been waiting for that for a long time. Now I see that our train will be pushed and operational. June 22, the train will run here in Antipolo and Marikina, connected to LRT-2 Extension," Tugade said.
LRT-2 Marikina Station
The DOTr added that the LRT-2 Extension will reduce travel time from Recto to Antipolo to only 40 minutes. This is a significant improvement as compared to an estimated three-hour bus and jeepney ride. The agency also said that around 320,000 train riders can be serviced with the opening of the Marikina and Antipolo stations.
Travel time from Recto to Antipolo is estimated at 40 minutes
The LRT-2 East Extension project broke ground in June 2015. The said project added 4.2 kilometers to the 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 line up to Masinag in Antipolo City, which is an elevated viaduct from Santolan, Pasig City to Masinag, Antipolo City.
The Marikina and Antipolo LRT-2 stations were initially scheduled to open in April. But it didn’t push through due to the threat brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The schedule adjustment was made following recent developments in the country's COVID-19 situation despite the project already being substantially complete,” DOTr said in a statement.
The DOTr previously said that foreign rail experts needed in the final stages of installation, and testing of the new LRT-2 stations were not able to report for work or enter the Philippines due to the strict quarantine protocols.
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