Daily Ride on LRT Train

When the government started its C-3 (Araneta Avenue) / R-7 (Quezon Avenue) Interchange Project, I decided to avoid riding the bus when I go to and from the office. This decision left me no choice but to travel using the LRT -3. The interchange project aims to build an underpass along Quezon Avenue so as to ease the flow of traffic at the avenue's intersection with Araneta Avenue. The result, of course, is the heavy traffic for those who are passing through Quezon Avenue.

.

Traffic at Quezon Avenue corner Araneta Avenue.

Light Rail Transit – 3 (LRT -3) or the so-called “Purple Line” passes through the University Belt. Thus, the usual riders of the LRT – 3 are college students. What I like with LRT – 3 is that its coach are more spacious as compared with the coaches of LRT – 1 and MRT. Also, LRT – 3 has fewer passengers as compared with the other rail transits. Due to this, LRT – 3 is still spacious even during the rush hours.

.

I never experience this much space in LRT-1 or MRT.

.

LRT during the rush hour is not body-crushing crowded
as compared with the MRT.

Another thing that I like about LRT – 3 is that the platform is relatively cleaner and wider than that in LRT – 1 and MRT. The platforms are also well-lighted.

I think that the LRT – 3 is the direct opposite of LRT – 1 because the latter is the worst of the rail lines that I rode on so far. LRT – 1 passes along Taft Avenue from Monumento to Baclaran. LRT – 1 has crowded coaches, dirty and dark platforms, and dilapidated train stations.

LRT – 3 is the best rail transit in Metro Manila. However, it is still an inconvenience that I ride the LRT – 3 to and from work. It would be easier for me to ride a bus just like the time before the start of the Interchange Project. Too bad that the duration of the project is 15 months long, which means that I have to ride the LRT until the second half of 2012. The only consolation that I have is that I am traveling via the LRT – 3 and not the too crowded LRT – 1 and MRT.

P.S. I saw an interesting graffiti while I'm in the Betty Go-Belmonte Station. Is this the way how graffiti artists say sorry to someone?

.

Foreground graffiti says "Sorry na Julie" (I am sorry Julie).

---

Visit Ahab Reviews and Tips and read about the upcoming Pacquiao vs Marques fight.

Follow me in Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and YouSayToo.

First image came from Balita.

Worse than a Can of Sardines

“Mas maswerte pa ang mga sardinas…” (Sardines had it better). This is what my mind exclaims every time I had to ride the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) train to go to the main office. When you ride the MRT, especially if you decide to stand near the doors (to make it easy for me to go out when I reach my destination), you will be crushed and you will feel uneasy throughout the whole trip.

In the past four work days, my boss sent me to a training in the main office in Taguig. To reach the main office from my home, I had to ride the MRT from the North EDSA station then go down the Guadalupe Station.

Riding on North EDSA is just fine. You only need to wait for 15 minutes lining up and edging other commuters up to the platform entrance.

The problem comes when you reach Kamuning, Cubao, and Santolan Stations where the agitated and now impatient commuters will push those already are inside the train so that they too could ride and reach their office on time.

 .

Inside the MRT (Recycled photo).

That experience made me think that I will never ever want to be assigned in the main office. I would rather outwit and outrun other commuters to the buses going to Quiapo.

LRT Art 2009

I didn’t anticipate that my travel by train last Friday will give me an added bonus. Aside from escaping the traffic and the flooded streets caused by heavy rains, I also chanced upon an art exhibit in the Cubao Station of LRT Line 3. The exhibit showcases that entries of various painters for the LRT Art 2009. The paintings should contain a depiction of the LRT or the train and connect it with society.
.

Obviously, many paintings were for propaganda or painted to delight the management of LRTA. However, many of the paintings are good to behold and here are my favorites:

.

"Time Machine" by Clarence Cantiveros.

.

"Pumasok sa Ginhawa" by John Carlo Jacinto.

.

"Puno ng Kulay ang Una Kong Paglalakbay" and Ricky Ambagan.

.

"Lahat Pantay-pantay sa LRT Sumasakay" by Redentor Castillo.

.

"Ang Pundasyon ng Transportasyon" by Deoner Catamora.

.

"Ladder of Dreams" by Rommel Ramota.