Platform screen doors to be installed in Metro Manila Subway, North-South Commuter Railway stations

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20) — Platform screen doors (PSD) will be installed in all stations of the Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) to prevent accidental falls and passengers jumping onto the train tracks, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Sunday.

PSDs are partitions that separate the platform from the train tracks. It is seen in various railway lines in Asia and Europe.

DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez said the Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4), which will run from Quezon City to Taytay, Rizal will also have PSDs in all stations.

Construction of the Metro Manila Subway, which will run from Valenzuela to Bicutan, is expected to be finished by 2028.

Meanwhile, the 147-kilometer NSCR, which will connect New Clark City in Tarlac province to Calamba in Laguna province, is seen to be completed in 2029.

A 26-year-old man lost his left foot after jumping onto the southbound tracks of the LRT-1 Blumentritt Station Saturday.

Chavez said it would be “difficult” to install PSDs in existing LRT and MRT stations but the proposal is under study.

For now, he said security personnel in all train stations will constantly remind passengers to stay away from the edge of the platform when a train is approaching.

"Mahihirapan tayong maglagay ng platform screen door, pero pinag-aaralan namin ‘yan sa ngayon," said Chavez.

[Translation: It will be difficult to install platform screen doors, but we are studying that now.]

He also commended LRT-1 personnel who quickly came to the aid of the person who figured in Saturday's incident.

"Nais naming pasalamatan ‘yung operator ng LRT-1 sapagkat mabilis ang kanyang pagkilos. Alam ninyo ‘yung paghinto ng tren, hindi mo lang inililigtas ‘yung nagtangkang tumalon but at the same time, para ma-reduce ‘yung impact sa loob ng tren," he said.

[Translation: We want to thank the LRT-1 operator because he acted swiftly. You know, by stopping the train, you didn't just save the one who attempted to jump, but also reduced the impact inside the train.]