MANILA, Aug. 13 (PNA) — After it was first successfully piloted at the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) last month, passengers taking the LRT-1 are also set to try the new beep cards this weekend.
Beep card concessionaire AF Payments Inc. and the LRT Authority (LRTA) on Thursday confirmed that the start of a public trial on the Southbound direction of LRT-1 will begin on Aug 16 (Sunday).
Selling activities for pre-loaded beep cards were conducted beginning Aug. 10 and is currently ongoing at seven LRT-1 stations (Roosevelt, Doroteo Jose, Central, EDSA, Gil Puyat, Monumento and Baclaran).
Here, beep cards were purchased at Php 100 (with Php 80 load) from beep promo personnel in the stations. AF Payments Inc. said that on Aug 10 and 11, almost 15,000 cards were purchased by commuters.
In the next phase, LRT-1 southbound direction of all 200 stations (from Roosevelt to Baclaran) will be ready to sell and reload beep Stored Value Cards (SVCs) as well as the new Single Journey Tickets (SJTs).
Pre-loaded beep cards will also be available for purchase beginning Aug. 17 at the following locations: Unibersidad de Manila, Philippine Normal University, Technical University of the Philippines, Masagna Building and Victory Mall.
The project concessionaire meanwhile said that consumers who purchased a beep card in LRT-2 may also start using it in LRT-1 (Southbound direction) only beginning Aug. 16.
With the selling of new beep cards, LRTA also reminded passengers to get cash refunds for the remaining value of the old magnetic cards in all LRT-1 station teller’s booths until Aug 15.
LRTA spokesperson Hernando Cabrera reiterated that after Aug 15, cash refund will no longer be accommodated.
“However, any unused credit in an old magnetic SVC may be transferred to the new beep card beginning Aug 16,” Cabrera said, adding that this may only be done in the LRT-1 central station teller’s booth.
AF Payments Inc. CEO Peter Maher, for his part, encouraged passengers to try the new beep cards to make a purchase during the pre-selling period so they don’t have to line up to buy their cards on Aug. 16.
“During the first week of the public trial, passengers should allow more time to purchase their tickets as the riding public familiarizes itself with the new systems,” Maher said.
“We hope to minimize any inconvenience to the public during the trial and transition to the new system on LRT-1 (Southbound) which is planned to be completed within a matter of weeks. We appreciate the public’s patience during this period,” Maher added. (PNA)