MANILA - The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) extended operating hours Monday morning to accommodate the rising number of passengers. For the next two weeks, operations at the North Avenue station start at 4:30 am and 5 am at the Taft Avenue station. Beginning March 10, evening runs will also be extended up to 10:30 pm at the North Avenue station and 11 pm at the Taft Avenue station. MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol said the test run has so far been successful. "There were no problems. We saw on the first hour... approximately 5,100 people that boarded the first hour. This is a good sign that some people are willing to wake up early and take the trains to decongest our system," he said in an interview on ANC Headstart. "The 5,000 would represent a good number but take a look at the North Avenue station, 530 am-559 am last Monday is 6,228 and the following hour 7,000. Now, if we can get like 2,000 at earlier hours then all of this would be lessened and effectively the station will be decongested so we are targeting around 7,000 in the first hour," he added. Vitangcol said the test run will help determine if the extended operation hours are viable in the long run. He said it should also change the riding habits of passengers. "If they feel they would be more comfortable, then I guess it would be better for them to wake up earlier than be inconvenienced in the long run," he said. MORNINGS@ANC, February 24, 2014