Seriously? “Business class” for light rail trains? But that’s exactly what Senator Grace Poe is proposing…
Poe raised this suggestion during the Senate hearing for the 2020 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), saying that those who will ride these premium train coaches may pay P200 to P300, which is higher than the normal fare for ordinary trains at MRT-3.
“May nagsabi sa akin. Ewan ko if this is something you can consider. But habang ginagawa ninyo ‘yung Dalian trains, baka daw pwedeng a few specific coaches or trains will be designated as business coaches,” she said.
Even the notion of such a set of exclusive coaches on heavier higher capacity commuter trains is ridiculous at best. On a light rail metro system such as in what operates in Metro Manila, the notion is downright stupid.
For that matter, public transport is supposed to democratise commuting. What Poe proposes seeks to extend the already cancerous class system that grips Philippine society to the train system.
Webmaster of Get Real Philippines