The Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 Christmas Train at Baclaran station is back after a break during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) president and CEO Juan Alfonso with Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano led the launching of the much-awaited Christmas-themed train at the LRT-1 Baclaran Station.
The seats inside the first LRV/coach of the Christmas Train are transformed into classical piano by sticker decals with translucent images of iconic classical music pieces on glass windows.
The second LRV/coach is decorated with vinyl discs and musical notes on windows while the seats are transformed into retro-themed café feels.
“We officially start the Christmas holiday season at LRT-1 today. We are happy to bring back this Christmas tradition of wrapping select trains at LRT-1 as one of our special treats to our passengers. The LRT-1 Christmas Train is part of our continued efforts to delight our passengers and give them an enjoyable experience, while we also work harder to improve train services for safe, reliable, and comfortable journey,” Alfonso said.
More than the heartwarming designs of the LRT-1 Christmas Train, lucky LRT-1 passengers will have a chance to receive special gifts from LRMC when they participate in activities that can be seen near the articulation area of the trains.
During the launching of the Christmas Train, passengers were serenaded by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
The LRMC employees from the Train Operations Division and Stations Operations Division also serenaded guests and passengers inside the train.
The school partner of LRMC for the campaign, Timoteo Paez Elementary School in Pasay, also rendered songs at LRT-1 Doroteo Jose Station during the launching ceremony.
“This is our sixth year of fully dressing up our LRT-1 trains. We chose Music of Christmas as the theme this year as we believe that music brings people together, like in LRT-1, we are bringing people from different places together. This is also our mindset as we journey forward and look ahead to better, brighter times in the coming new year,” Alfonso added.
Alfonso said the themed train campaign was first rolled out during the 2016 Christmas season, and has contributed to increased ridership, improved satisfaction, and created customer delight among LRT-1 passengers.