Rail transportation in the Greater Manila Area

Last updated

Rail transportation in the Greater Manila Area
PH Railway montage.jpg
Overview
OwnerGovernment of the Philippines
Department of Transportation
Locale Greater Manila Area, Philippines
Transit type Urban rail transit
Number of lines9 (4 currently operational)
Number of stations 63 (operational)
Daily ridership601,195 (2022) [a]
Annual ridership216,209,925 (2022) [a]
Technical
System length60.2 km (37.4 mi) (operational)
232.36 km (144.38 mi) (under construction)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) (PNR)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge (current and future lines)

Rail transportation in the Greater Manila Area is a major part of the transportation system in Metro Manila and its surrounding areas. The railway network, collectively known as the Greater Capital Region Railway System, [2] [3] [4] consists of the Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRT), Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT), and Philippine National Railways lines within the region.

Contents

The network makes up the majority of active railways in the country and bear the brunt of providing the metropolis with rail as a faster alternative mode of transport other than buses and jeepneys. However, these systems are currently insufficient for the rapidly expanding metropolis; to address this, new lines and line extensions are under construction, which will extend the system far out into neighboring regions. [5]

Network

There are three primary rail systems in the region:

In 2022, the system served 601,195 passengers daily on average. [1]

All lines are open every day of the year from 4:30 am PST (UTC+8) at the earliest until 10:15 pm at the latest. During Holy Week, a public holiday in the Philippines, the rail system is closed for annual maintenance, owing to fewer commuters and traffic around the metro. Normal operation resumes after Easter Sunday. [7] During the Christmas and year-end holidays, the operating hours of the system are shortened due to the low ridership of the system during the holidays. [8]

Line and colorOpenedLast extensionTerminiStationsTypeLength
Manila Light Rail Transit System
Line 1 December 1, 1984November 16, 2024 Fernando Poe Jr. Dr. Santos 25 Light rail 25.7 km (16.0 mi)
Line 2 April 5, 2003July 5, 2021 Recto Antipolo 13 Heavy rail 17.6 km (10.9 mi)
Manila Metro Rail Transit System
Line 3 December 15, 1999 North Avenue Taft Avenue 13 Light rail 16.9 km (10.5 mi)
Line 4 2028 [9] (projected) N. Domingo Taytay 11 Heavy rail 15.56 km (9.67 mi)
Line 7 2025 [10] (projected) North Triangle San Jose del Monte 14 Heavy rail 22.8 km (14.2 mi)
Metro Manila Subway (MMS) 2026 [11] (projected) East Valenzuela Bicutan
NAIA Terminal 3
15 Heavy rail 36 km (22 mi)
Philippine National Railways
North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) 2031 (projected) New Clark City [b]
Clark International Airport [b]
Calamba 36 Commuter rail 147 km (91 mi)
Inter-Provincial Commuter October 7, 2022 [12] Calamba Lucena [b] 12 Commuter rail 86 km (53 mi)
Other transit lines
SkyTrain Guadalupe Uptown Bonifacio 2 People mover TBD
Lines and stations in italics are either under construction, not yet operational, or have been closed.

Stations

There are 63 operational stations on the Greater Manila Area's rail network, with 38 from the LRT's two lines, 13 from the MRT's one line, and 12 from the PNR. [13] There were also previously 35 operational PNR stations, but operations were suspended to give way for the construction of the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR). [14] [15] In the future, 88 new stations are under construction and are planned to be opened: 39 for the MRT, 8 for the LRT, and 36 for the PNR, bringing the total to 146 stations. [c]

All stations, except for Antipolo and the 12 operational stations of the PNR, are situated within Metro Manila, with several future stations planned for the surrounding regions. Six stations serve as interchanges where commuters can switch lines. However, these stations are distinct structures from one another and are considered independent of each other.

Stations often derive their names from the streets or localities they serve. Consequently, it is possible for two separate stations to have identical names even though they are not in proximity to each other. For instance, the PNR EDSA station is situated near the Magallanes Interchange, while the LRT EDSA station can be found on the intersection between Taft Avenue and EDSA.

History

Early rail systems

The first steam-powered trains in the country ran on the Malabon Tranvia line. Steam-tram-malabon.jpg
The first steam-powered trains in the country ran on the Malabon Tranvía line.

Rail transportation in the Manila area dates back to 1878 when an official from Spain's Department of Public Works for the Philippines submitted a proposal for a Manila streetcar system, now referred to as the Tranvía. The system proposed was a five-line network emanating from Plaza San Gabriel in Binondo, running to Intramuros, Malate, Malacañan Palace, Sampaloc and Tondo. The project was approved and in 1882, Spanish-German businessman Jacobo Zóbel de Zangroniz, Spanish engineer Luciano M. Bremon, and Spanish banker Adolfo Bayo, founded the Compañia de los Tranvias de Filipinas to operate the concession granted by the Spanish colonial government. The first line opened in the system, the Tondo line, would open on December 9, 1883, predating the Ferrocarril de Manila–Dagupan by nine years, serving as the first rail transport in the country. Numerous other lines would open in the following years; the Intramuros line would open in 1886, the Sampaloc line in 1887, and the Malabón line in 1888. [16]

The Ferrocarril de Manila–Dagupan, which constitutes much of the PNR North Main Line today, began construction on July 31, 1887, with the laying of the cornerstone for Tutuban station, and the 195-kilometer (121 mi) line opened on November 24, 1892. Expansion of the Philippine railway network would not begin until the American colonial period, when on December 8, 1902, the Philippine Commission passed legislation authorizing the construction of another railway line from Manila to Southern Luzon. [17]

American period

With the American takeover of the Philippines, legislation was passed in 1909 authorizing further railway construction and the use of government bonds to finance them, and by 1916, 792.5 kilometers (492.4 mi) of track had been built by the company, which had reorganized itself as the Manila Railroad Company of New Jersey (MRR). [18] The Manila Railroad Company, which preceded the PNR, operated various local trains between Manila and its neighboring provinces. Trains from Tutuban lead to Naic in Cavite, Pagsanjan in Laguna, Montalban in Rizal, and Bulacan during the 1920s. [17]

Meanwhile, the Philippine Commission allowed the Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company (Meralco) to take over the properties of the Compañia de los Tranvias de Filipinas, [19] with the first of twelve mandated electric tranvia (tram) lines operated by MERALCO opening in Manila in 1905. [20] At the end of the first year around 63 kilometers (39 mi) of track had been laid. [21] A five-year reconstruction program was initiated in 1920, and by 1924, 170 cars serviced many parts of the city and its outskirts. [21] Although it was an efficient system for the city's 220,000 inhabitants, by the 1930s the streetcar network had stopped expanding. [20] [21] [22] Much of the Tranvía network and rail services would be destroyed during World War II.

Post-war period

Following the war, the MRR was able to restore limited services, using surplus military equipment and payments made by the United States Army and the Philippine Commonwealth Army for use of railway facilities in the Philippines Campaign. However, the tram network was damaged beyond repair and was dismantled; jeepneys became the city's primary form of transportation, plying the routes once served by the tram lines. [20] With the return of buses and cars to the streets, traffic congestion became a problem.

In 1966, the Philippine government granted a franchise to Philippine Monorail Transport Systems (PMTS) for the operation of an inner-city monorail. [23] The monorail's feasibility was still being evaluated when the government asked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to conduct a separate transport study. [22] Prepared between 1971 and 1973, the JICA study proposed a series of circumferential and radial roads, an inner-city rapid transit system, a commuter railway, and an expressway with three branches. [22] After further examination, many recommendations were adopted; however, none of them involved rapid transit and the monorail was never built. PMTS' franchise subsequently expired in 1974. [24]

Meanwhile, the MRR's successor, the Philippine National Railways, opened its commuter service from Manila North Harbor to Biñan, Laguna. During this decade, more stations were opened although some were either closed or relocated. In 1976, the commuter system peaked and extended as far north as San Fernando, Pampanga, [25] Guadalupe (located in Mandaluyong on the other side of Pasig River) to the east, and College to the south. [26] There were also services in the now-defunct Carmona branch line. [27]

Another study was performed between 1976 and 1977, this time by Freeman Fox and Associates and funded by the World Bank. It originally suggested a street-level railway, but its recommendations were revised by the newly formed Ministry of Transportation and Communications (now the Department of Transportation). The ministry instead called for an elevated system because of the city's many intersections. [20] However, the revisions increased the price of the project from ₱1.5 billion to ₱2 billion. A supplementary study was conducted and completed within three months.

In 1978, at the request of the Philippine government, the Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a study on the electrification of the PNR's north and south commuter lines in Metro Manila. [28] The plan, formulated to keep up with the increasing demand for transportation in the Manila area, called for the replacement of the diesel-run trains and the electrification of the PNR commuter line. Two experts from the Japanese National Railways were sent to conduct the study. [28]

Introduction of rapid transit

LRTA Class 1000 being built in Bruges in 1982 LRT-1 ligthrail Manila vehicle being build in Bruges.jpg
LRTA Class 1000 being built in Bruges in 1982

President Ferdinand Marcos created the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) on July 12, 1980, by virtue of Executive Order No. 603 [29] giving birth to what was then dubbed the "Metrorail". Construction of Metrorail started in September 1981. The line was test-run in March 1984, and the first half of the line from Baclaran to Central Terminal was opened on December 1, 1984. With the opening of its first segment, LRT Line 1 became the first rapid transit service in Southeast Asia. [30] The second half, from Central Terminal to Monumento, was opened on May 12, 1985. [31] Overcrowding and poor maintenance resulted in the system's inefficiency and disruptions to operations. [20] The premature aging of Line 1 led to an extensive refurbishing and structural capacity expansion program with the help of Japan's ODA. [32]

During the construction of the LRT Line 1, Electrowatt Engineering Services of Zürich also designed a comprehensive plan for metro service in Metro Manila. The plan—still used as the basis for planning new metro lines—consisted of a 150-kilometer (93 mi) network of rapid transit lines spanning all major corridors within 20 years. [33] The plan would be revised in 1999 as the Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. [34]

In the 1993 Updated Traffic and Transport Management Plan, which proposes the network of five LRT lines that were approved in 1995: [35] [36] [37]

For the 1995 and 1999 MMUTIS master plans of a network, [36] [38] which revise the routes, they are:

The construction of the Metro Rail Transit system's first line, MRT Line 3, would officially began in 1989 under the name "LRT-3" with the Hong Kong-based EDSA LRT Corporation winning the public bidding for the line's construction during the term of President Corazon Aquino. [39] However, construction could not commence, with the project stalled as the Philippine government conducted several investigations into alleged irregularities with the project's contract. [40] In 1995, the Supreme Court upheld the regularity of the project (G.R. No. 114222, April 6, 1995) which paved the way for construction to finally begin during the term of President Fidel V. Ramos. A consortium of local companies, led by Fil-Estate Management was later joined by Ayala Land, and 5 others, later formed the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) in June 1995 and took over the EDSA LRT Corporation. [39] Construction began on October 15, 1996, with a BLT agreement signed between the Philippine government and the MRTC. [39] On December 15, 1999, the initial section from North Avenue to Buendia was inaugurated by President Joseph Estrada. [41]

In 1990, the PNR's commuter system underwent renovations under the working title of Metrotrak. [42] By May of that year, the system was inaugurated as Metrotren to distinguish it from the LRT Line 1, then named "Metrorail". [43] However, the Metrotren system eventually suffered neglect due to lack of funding and maintenance. Plans for expansion and rehabilitation such as the Manila–Clark rapid railway project and Guadalupe line revival was also never realized. [44] In addition, numerous natural disasters and neglect forced the line from Manila to Northern Luzon to close. [45]

LRT Line 2 would begin construction in 1996, twelve years after the opening of LRT Line 1, with the granting of the soft loans for the line's construction. However, construction barely commenced, with the project stalled as the Philippine government conducted several investigations into alleged irregularities with the project's contract. The consortium of local and foreign companies, led by Marubeni Corporation, formed the Asia-Europe MRT Consortium (AEMC) which won the contract and restarted the project in 2000 after getting cleared from the allegations. [46]

Expansion

Numerous rail projects would be completed in the early 2000s. On July 20, 2000, the rest of the MRT Line 3 stations opened a little over a month past the original deadline, due to DOTC's inclusion of additional work orders such as the Tramo overpass in Pasay leading to NAIA. [47] Initially having low ridership due to high fares, [48] the government subsidized fares to reduce the line's ticket prices, causing ridership to increase. On April 5, 2003, LRT Line 2's initial section, from Santolan to Araneta Center-Cubao was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, [49] with all remaining stations opening on April 5, 2004, except for Recto which opened on October 29, 2004. [50]

The NorthRail project was halted in 2011 and only a few pillars for the railway viaduct were built. 09786jfMalolos City Bridge NBN ZTE deal corruption scandal MacArthur Highway Bulacanfvf 34.jpg
The NorthRail project was halted in 2011 and only a few pillars for the railway viaduct were built.

Rehabilitation of the PNR and Northrail

The Arroyo administration attempted to modernize the PNR system by rebuilding the lines and purchasing new rolling stock. PNR purchased 6 brand new diesel multiple units from South Korea and became its first order in 35 years. [51] The government also started the Northrail project, which would have revived the North Main Line from Tutuban to Malolos, with the first phase covering Caloocan to Malolos segment. [52] The project was estimated to cost around US$500 million, and the funding was to be covered by a US$400 million by the Export–Import Bank of China, and the rest to be shouldered by the government through BCDA and NLRC. [52] [53] [54] However, due to allegations of overpricing and other problems, [52] the line's construction was repeatedly halted, until it was finally discontinued in 2011. [55] [53] The succeeding Aquino administration rebuilt the stations along the line to accommodate high-floor trains. PNR also acquired second-hand multiple units from Japan as stopgap measures to its train fleet, ending the Metrotren era. [56]

Strong Republic Transit System

The Strong Republic Transit System was launched in 2004 to integrate the various rail lines providing public transport in Manila in the Philippines. The program was initiated by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 14, 2003. It aimed to provide a "reliable, seamless and integrated mass transit system that would be at par with international standards" through the unification of already-existing rail infrastructure under one transit system and fare structure. The Manila Light Rail Transit System (Line 1 and Line 2), the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (Line 3) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Northrail and Southrail lines were covered by the SRTS project. [57]

These are the existing and proposed lines under the SRTS:

  • LRT-1: Baclaran to Monumento and the extensions to North Avenue and Cavite
  • LRT-2: Recto to Santolan
  • MRT-3: North Avenue to Taft Avenue
  • MRT-7: North Avenue to San Jose del Monte
  • Northrail: Caloocan to Malolos
  • Southrail: Caloocan to Calamba

Contemporary history

Construction of the North-South Commuter Railway in Malolos, Bulacan. 0766Hagonoy Baliuag Malolos City, Bulacan 01.jpg
Construction of the North–South Commuter Railway in Malolos, Bulacan.

Numerous extensions to the existing lines would be opened beginning in 2010. The construction of LRT Line 1's north extension to Roosevelt began in 2007 and would be completed by 2010. Originally supposed to end at North Avenue, bureaucracy in the Department of Transportation, corporate feud, and issues related to its proposed location hindered the station's construction, which would only begin in 2017. [58] [59] [60] [61] LRT Line 1 would also be privatized in 2015. [62] Construction of another extension of the line up to Cavite began in 2019, partially opening in 2024 until Sucat. [63] On July 5, 2021, the east extension of the LRT Line 2, which began construction in 2015, was opened to the public. [64] The extension adds the Marikina and Antipolo stations, with the latter being the first rail transit station to be opened outside of Metro Manila.

However, the early 2010s were also marked by the deterioration of some lines. PNR's commuter line in the region would further decline as services were further suspended to Santa Rosa in 2014, [65] and to Alabang in 2015 due to safety issues and accidents on the line. [66] The national government would later procure new rolling stock and rehabilitate the line, enabling services to Governor Pascual in the north and IRRI in the south to be reopened by 2019. [67] [68] Meanwhile, MRT Line 3 deteriorated due to poor maintenance and overcrowding. As a response, the government started procuring additional trainsets in 2013, with the first trainsets received in 2016. However, various compatibility issues and the line's poor condition led to the trainsets only being used in limited capacity beginning in 2020. The rehabilitation of the line started in 2019 and was completed in 2021. [69]

Several new railway projects are being undertaken by the national government and the private sector. These include the North–South Commuter Railway, the Metro Manila Subway, and MRT Line 7, all of which are under construction. [5] [70] Other line extensions and railway lines are in the planning stage. [71] [72]

For the 2020s proposal, the Greater Capital Region Railway System consists of seven lines: [73] [74]

Rolling stock

The railway systems in the Greater Manila Area use multiple types of rolling stock.

Manila LRT

An LRTA 2000 class train approaching Katipunan station Manila Line 2 train approaching Katipunan Station.jpg
An LRTA 2000 class train approaching Katipunan station

Four types of rolling stock run on the system, with three types used on Line 1 and another used on Line 2. Line 1 railway cars were made either in Belgium by La Bruggeoise et Nivelle, South Korea by Hyundai Precision and Adtranz (La bruggeoise et Nivelle and Adtranz are now part of Bombardier Transportation), or Japan by Kinki Sharyo and Nippon Sharyo. [75] [76] [77] The Line 2, unlike the Line 1, runs heavy rail metro cars made in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem and provided by the Asia-Europe MRT Consortium led by Marubeni Corporation that have higher passenger capacity and maximum speed. [78] All four types of rolling stock are powered by electricity supplied through overhead wires.

Of the two LRTA lines, the Line 2 prominently employs wrap advertising in its rolling stock. LRT Line 1 have also begun using wrap advertising as well initially for their second-generation trains, followed by their third-generation trains.

Manila MRT

A newly-overhauled MRTC 3000 class train at North Avenue station MRT3 North Avenue 3007A 2021-11-20.jpg
A newly-overhauled MRTC 3000 class train at North Avenue station

Currently, the system uses two types of rolling stock on its single line, MRT Line 3. Like LRT Line 1, the line uses light rail vehicles. The first railway cars were manufactured by ČKD Tatra in 1999. The second railway cars, commonly referred to as the Dalian Train, were manufactured by CRRC Dalian in 2016. The deployment of the Dalian trainsets was delayed due to several factors, including weight limits on existing tracks and inconsistencies in production, which has since been corrected. Though some train cars have passed validation tests, none of the Dalian trains are in operation for daily revenue services.

The MRT Line 4, Line 7, and the Metro Manila Subway will use heavy rail metro cars unlike Line 3, with the trains of the Metro Manila Subway being similar to that of the North–South Commuter Railway. [79]

Philippine National Railways

A PNR 8100 class train near FTI station Philippine National Railways PT INKA 8103 near FTI 2021-10-31.jpg
A PNR 8100 class train near FTI station

The Metro Commuter Line has always used diesel-powered rolling stock since the services were opened in 1970. There were no new orders until 2009 when PNR ordered the Hyundai Rotem DMUs, followed by second-hand multiple units and coaches from Japan. PNR later ordered 7 new trains from Indonesian manufacturer PT INKA in 2018, subsequently increased to 9. The DOST Hybrid Electric Train also entered trial service the same year. [80] The agency then commenced the refurbishment of its entire fleet the following year, which introduced polycarbonate windows that can resist stoning as well as a new livery. After all the INKA trainsets have arrived and the refurbishment of older trains are completed, the Hyundai Rotem DMUs and the INKA trainsets will become the Metro Commuter fleet while the older Japanese trainsets will be transferred to the Bicol Region for its new commuter service unless PNR decides otherwise.

The North–South Commuter Railway will use a total of 464 electric multiple unit train cars, equivalent to 58 train sets. 104 of these are the thirteen 8-car EM10000 class trainsets being built by the Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC), while the other 304 will also be built by J-TREC with the same design and specifications to the EM10000 class trains. [81] The trainsets are based on JR East commuter stock such as the E233 series but adopted to standard gauge. The first commuter train arrived on November 21, 2021. [82] On the other hand, an order for 56 airport express trainsets (7 sets) was awarded to Mitsubishi Corporation and Spanish railcar manufacturer CAF in 2023. [83]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Combined ridership of the four currently operational lines. [1]
  2. 1 2 3 Located outside of the Greater Manila Area.
  3. Six future stations of the PNR are located outside of the Greater Manila Area. However, these stations are still considered part of the rail network and are listed below.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine National Railways</span> Railway company in the Philippines

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is a state-owned railway company in the Philippines which operates one commuter rail service between Laguna and Quezon, and local services between Sipocot, Naga and Legazpi in the Bicol Region. It is an attached agency of the Department of Transportation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MRT Line 3 (Metro Manila)</span> Rail line in Metro Manila, Philippines

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3, also known as the MRT Line 3, MRT-3, or Metrostar Express, is a rapid transit line in Metro Manila in the Philippines. The line runs in an orbital north to south route following the alignment of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). Despite its name, the line is more akin to a light rapid transit system owing to its tram-like rolling stock while having total grade separation and high passenger throughput. The line is officially known as the Yellow Line. Its current General Manager is Oscar Bongon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transportation in the Philippines</span>

Rail transportation in the Philippines is currently used mostly to transport passengers within Metro Manila and provinces of Laguna and Quezon, as well as a commuter service in the Bicol Region. Freight transport services once operated in the country, but these services were halted. However, there are plans to restore old freight services and build new lines. From a peak of 1,100 kilometers (680 mi), the country currently has a railway footprint of 533.14 kilometers (331.28 mi), of which only 129.85 kilometers (80.69 mi) are operational as of 2024, including all the urban rail lines. World War II, natural calamities, underspending, and neglect have all contributed to the decline of the Philippine railway network. In the 2019 Global Competitiveness Report, the Philippines has the lowest efficiency score among other Asian countries in terms of efficiency of train services, receiving a score of 2.4, and ranking 86th out of 101 countries globally. The government is currently expanding the railway network up to 1,900 kilometers (1,200 mi) by 2022 through numerous projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EDSA station (LRT)</span> Train station in Pasay, Philippines

EDSA station is an elevated Light Rail Transit (LRT) station located on the LRT Line 1 (LRT-1) system in Pasay. The station is situated on the intersection of Taft Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, better known as EDSA, one of Metro Manila's major thoroughfares. The station and the avenue are both named after Epifanio de los Santos, a noted historian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strong Republic Transit System</span>

The Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS) was a program initiated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on June 14, 2003, aimed at integrating the various rail lines providing public transport in Metro Manila, Philippines. It aimed to provide a "reliable, seamless and integrated mass transit system that would be at par with international standards" by unifying existing rail infrastructure under one transit system and fare structure. The Manila Light Rail Transit System (Line 1 and Line 2), the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (Line 3) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Northrail and Southrail lines were covered by the SRTS project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LRT Line 1 (Metro Manila)</span> Light rail line in Manila

The Light Rail Transit Line 1, commonly referred to as LRT Line 1 or LRT-1, is a light rapid transit system line in Metro Manila, Philippines, operated by Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) and owned by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) as part of the Manila Light Rail Transit System. Originally referred to as Metrorail and the Yellow Line, LRT Line 1 was reclassified to be the Green Line in 2012. It travels in a general north–south direction from Dr. Santos to Monumento, and then east–west from Monumento to Fernando Poe Jr. Currently, the line consists of 25 stations and runs on 25.9 kilometers of fully elevated route. Although it has the characteristics of light rail, such as with the type of rolling stock used, it is more akin to a rapid transit system owing to its total grade separation and high passenger throughput.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Avenue station (MRT)</span> Elevated passenger train station in Quezon City, Philippines

North Avenue station is an elevated Metro Rail Transit (MRT) station located on the MRT Line 3 (MRT-3) system in Diliman, Quezon City. Located on the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), it is named after the adjacent North Avenue, which intersects the highway. It is the current northern terminus of the line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taft Avenue station</span> Train station in Pasay, Philippines

Taft Avenue station is the southern terminus of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) system located in Pasay. It is situated at the intersection of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), one of Metro Manila's major thoroughfares, and Taft Avenue, usually referred to as Pasay Rotonda or EDSA-Taft. The station is named after Taft Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Rail Transit Corporation</span> Philippine financial consortium

The Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC), is a private consortium organized in June 1995. The consortium is composed of seven (7) Filipino-owned companies: Fil-Estate Management Inc, Ayala Land Inc, Ramcar Inc, Greenfield Development Corporation of Unilab, Anglo-Philippine Holdings Corporation, National Book Store Group, Allante Realty and Development Inc, and DBH Inc. The Metro Rail Transit Corporation owns the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 running along the EDSA corridor. MRTC was the original contractor for the EDSA MRT-3 Project. It runs the MRT-3 in coordination with the Department of Transportation under a 25-year Build-Lease-Transfer contract or BLT Agreement, which will end in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Metro Manila</span> Overview of Metro Manilas transportation system

The transportation system in Metro Manila covers the road network, rail network, ferries, ports and airports located within the metropolitan Manila area. Road transportation in Metro Manila is diverse, composed of many types of private and public transport vehicles. These include taxis, buses, jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs. In some areas, especially in Divisoria and large public markets, two-stroke motors are fitted in the pedicabs and are used for goods transport. Regardless of modernity, horse-drawn kalesas are still used in the streets of Binondo and Intramuros. Ridesharing services such as Grab also operate within Metro Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manila Metro Rail Transit System</span> Transit system in Manila

The Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRTS), commonly known as the MRT, is a rapid transit system that primarily serves Metro Manila, Philippines. Along with the Manila Light Rail Transit System and the Metro Commuter Line of the Philippine National Railways, the system makes up Metro Manila's rail infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PNR Metro Commuter Line</span> Commuter rail line in the Philippines

The PNR Metro Commuter Line was a commuter rail line operated by the Philippine National Railways. It was first inaugurated as the Metro Manila Commuter Service in 1970, and originally served the North Main Line and the South Main Lines, as well as the defunct Carmona and Guadalupe branch lines. Since then, it adopted several names such as Metrotrak and Metrotren, before adopting its present name in the late 2000s. The line was also nicknamed the Orange Line due to its designation in the 1970s.

The Light Rail Transit Line 6 is a proposed rapid transit system in Cavite, Philippines. There have been two proposals for the line, with the first one shelved immediately in 2018. Another proposal emerged in 2017 and is currently under review by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4) is a proposed rapid transit line that would serve the Greater Manila Area of the Philippines. The 12.7 km (7.9 mi), 10-station elevated railway would connect Ortigas Center in Metro Manila and the suburban municipality of Taytay, Rizal. It would traverse along Ortigas Avenue and Manila East Road, starting at the former's junction with EDSA in Quezon City to the west until it terminates near the New Taytay Public Market to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Manila Subway</span> Future Manila metro line

The Metro Manila Subway, formerly known as the Mega Manila Subway (MMS) is an under-construction underground rapid transit line in Metro Manila, Philippines. The 33-kilometer (21 mi) line, which will run north–south between Valenzuela, Quezon City, Pasig, Taguig, Parañaque and Pasay, consists of 17 stations between the East Valenzuela and Bicutan stations. It will become the country's second direct airport rail link after the North–South Commuter Railway, with a branch line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North–South Commuter Railway</span> Commuter rail under construction in Luzon, Philippines

The North–South Commuter Railway, also known as the Clark–Calamba Railway, is a 147-kilometer (91-mile) commuter rail system under construction on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Running from New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, to Calamba, Laguna, with 36 stations and four services, the railway is designed to improve connectivity within the Greater Manila Area and will be integrated with the railway network in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PNR South Main Line</span> Philippine rail line

The PNR South Main Line is one of the two trunk lines that form the Philippine National Railways' network in the island of Luzon, Philippines. It was opened in stages between 1916 and 1938 by the Manila Railroad. Services peaked in the 1940s until the late 1960s, when the system started to decline. Since 1988, it was the only functioning inter-city rail after its counterpart to the north, the North Main Line, was closed. The intercity section of the line in Laguna, Quezon and the Bicol Region was then closed and reopened repeatedly between 2004 and 2014 due to a combination of declining ridership and was closed since then. Currently, only a little more than half of line is operational as the line currently serves two commuter services, namely the Inter-Provincial Commuter from San Pedro to Lucena and the Bicol Commuter regional rail service between Sipocot, Naga Camarines Sur and Legazpi Albay, following the closure of the main line, the PNR Metro Commuter Line between Tutuban station and Laguna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PNR North Main Line</span> Rail service between the NCR and Central Luzon, Philippines

The PNR North Main Line is one of the two trunk lines of the Philippine National Railways in the island of Luzon, the other being the PNR South Main Line. The line during its maximum extent led to various cities and municipalities in Central Luzon and the Ilocos Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PNR EM10000 class</span> Philippine train type

The PNR EM10000 class is an electric multiple unit commuter trainset that will be operated by the Philippine National Railways on the North–South Commuter Railway. Prior to the reveal of its numbering scheme in October 2021, the train was known as the PNR Sustina Commuter. Set to enter service by 2028, it will be PNR's first trainset to be run on standard gauge and powered by electric traction. The trains are also designed to be interoperable with the Metro Manila Subway.

References

  1. 1 2 Abadilla, Emmie V. (April 12, 2023). "10 regional airports up for sale - Bautista". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  2. "LOOK: Upcoming railway system to connect seven train lines in Greater Manila Area". Philstar Life. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  3. "DOTr's Greater Capital Region railway system map previews 'operating lines by 2030'". Top Gear Philippines . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  4. Rodriguez, Mia (September 6, 2023). "LOOK: Here's What Our Train Lines Might Be Like by 2030". Spot.PH .
  5. 1 2 "Praiseworthy progress in commuter rail infrastructure". The Manila Times. March 9, 2021. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  6. Relativo, James. "PNR to suspend Metro Manila operations to 'speed up NSCR project'". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  7. Ronda, Rainier Allan (March 31, 2010). "LRT, MRT closed for Holy Week". The Philippine Star . PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  8. Grecia, Leandre (December 21, 2021). "Here are the LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3 schedules for Christmas 2021". Top Gear Philippines. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  9. Subingsubing, Krixia (January 10, 2020). "MRT 4 project targeted for completion in 2025". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  10. "MRT-7 more than 50% complete, set to open by Dec. 2022". CNN Philippines. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  11. "DOTr says Metro Manila Subway will be flood-proof". Inquirer.net. September 5, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  12. "PNR relaunches Calamba - Lucena - Calamba line". PIA. October 7, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  13. "PNR relaunches Calamba - Lucena - Calamba line". PIA. October 7, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  14. Abadilla, Emmie V. (July 3, 2023). "P73-B Alabang-Calamba leg of NSCR breaks ground". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  15. Yu, Lance Spencer (March 8, 2024). "PNR will stop operations on March 28 for five years". RAPPLER. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  16. "Proyecto de un tranvía de vapor de Manila a Malabón: 'Plano'", Map, vol. ULTRAMAR, MPD.6512 -, 1882, archived from the original on July 13, 2021, retrieved December 7, 2020
  17. 1 2 Orbon, Glenn; Dungca, Joana (2015). "The Philippine Railway System". Movement Systems.
  18. "Chapter I: Present Conditions". Report of Survey of the Manila Railroad Company and the Preliminary Survey of Railroads for Mindanao (Report). Chicago: De Leuw, Cather & Company. 1951. pp. 1–12.
  19. The Philippines' Oldest Business House. Makati: Filipinas Foundation. 1984. pp. 68–70.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Satre, Gary L. (June 1998). "The Metro Manila LRT System—A Historical Perspective" (PDF). Japan Railway and Transport Review. 16: 33–37. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2006. Retrieved May 8, 2006.
  21. 1 2 3 Manila Electric Company (Meralco). (November 10, 2004). "History of Meralco". Meralco company website. Archived from the original on September 18, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  22. 1 2 3 "Light Rail Transit Authority Company History". Light Rail Transit Authority. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  23. Republic of the Philippines. (Approved: June 14, 1966). Republic Act No. 4652 – An Act Granting the Philippine Monorail Transit System, Incorporated a Franchise to Establish, Maintain and Operate a Monorail Transportation Service in the City of Manila and Suburbs and Cebu City and Province Archived February 16, 2020, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved December 13, 2009, from the Chan Robles Virtual Law Library.
  24. Republic of the Philippines. (Enacted: October 4, 1971). Republic Act No. 6417 – An Act Amending Sections Three And Seven Of Republic Act Numbered Forty-Six Hundred Fifty-Two, Entitled "An Act Granting the Philippine Monorail Transit System, Incorporated a Franchise to Establish, Maintain and Operate a Monorail Transportation Service in the City Of Manila and Suburbs and Cebu City and Province" Archived September 15, 2019, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved December 13, 2009, from the Chan Robles Virtual Law Library.
  25. "PNR Schedule effective September 11, 1976". www.flickr.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  26. "Old PNR stations". Reddit . Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  27. "Carmona's Commuter Train". Times Journal. April 1973. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  28. 1 2 "REPORT ON STUDY OF THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE PNR COMMUTER SERVICE" (PDF). Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). December 1978. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  29. Republic of the Philippines. (July 12, 1980). "Executive Order No. 603". Archived from the original on May 19, 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from the Light Rail Transit Authority Website.
  30. Marasigan, Lorenz S. (January 28, 2021). "New trains for LRT-1 arrive in PHL | Lorenz S. Marasigan". BusinessMirror. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  31. The Line 1 System – The Yellow Line. [ca. 2010]. Light Rail Transit Authority. Retrieved January 19, 2010. Archived March 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  32. Japan International Cooperation Agency. "Line 1 Capacity Expansion Project" (PDF). JICA official page. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  33. "Light Rail Transit Authority Company History". Light Rail Transit Authority. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  34. Abadilla, Emmie V. (July 1, 2021). "P4.5-B LRT-2 East Extension to start operation next week". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  35. "Urban Railway Projects In Bangkok - Measures for Securing Financial Resources" (PDF).
  36. 1 2 "Malacañang okays five more LRT projects". Manila Standard. May 27, 1995. p. 17.
  37. "414896". 1994.
  38. Iwata, Shizuo (March 5, 1999). Final Report Summary (PDF). Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study (Report). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  39. 1 2 3 Anonas, Alma S. (June 10, 1999). "On track and heading for Year 2K on MRT-3". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  40. Macaspac, Joem H.; Garcia, Ma. Luisa M. (March 28, 1996). "First phase of Edsa metro rail transit system under way". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  41. "Miracle rail project to rid Edsa of jams". New Straits Times . The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd. December 15, 1999. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  42. "MetroTrak". Philippine Journal. Philippine News Agency. January 4, 1990. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  43. "Metrotren inaugural". Manila Chronicle. May 11, 1990. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  44. "Off track: Northrail timeline". ABS-CBN News. July 15, 2008. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  45. Camus, Miguel (July 16, 2015). "Gov't rolls out P171-B railway project". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  46. "Manila Light Rail Transit Line 2 East Extension Line Starts Operation". Marubeni Corporation . July 6, 2021. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  47. "MRT 3 Fully Completed; Inauguration, Turnover Set on July 20" . Manila Bulletin . Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. July 16, 2000. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  48. Trinidad, Andrea H. (January 2, 2000). "Metrostar Express proves a big disappointment". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  49. Japan International Cooperation Agency. "Metro Manila Strategic Mass Rail Transit Development" (PDF). JICA Official Page. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  50. Bergonia, Allan. (October 28, 2004). "Line 2 Recto Station Opens". People's Journal . Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved May 11, 2006, from the LRTA Website.
  51. "Ballast Train in Tayuman". May 25, 2009. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  52. 1 2 3 "Off track: Northrail timeline". ABS-CBN News. July 15, 2008. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  53. 1 2 Inquirer, Philippine Daily (January 17, 2019). "WHAT WENT BEFORE: The Northrail Project". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  54. "RP, China break ground for Manila–Ilocos railway". Malaya . April 6, 2004. Archived from the original on May 9, 2010.
  55. "Philippines: China-funded Northrail project derailed". Financial Times. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  56. Montecillo, Paolo (September 26, 2011). "PNR gets old trains from Japan". Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  57. The Strong Republic Transit System, www.lrta.gov.ph, February 3, 2004
  58. Kris Bayos (February 4, 2015). "Common station at SM North EDSA pushed for Lines 1, 3, and 7". Manila Bulletin . Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  59. Judith Balea (June 14, 2014). "Why SM is after the MRT-LRT common station". Rappler. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  60. Mick Basa (November 20, 2014). "DOTC eyeing another LRT-MRT common station". Rappler. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  61. Danessa O. Rivera (August 1, 2014). "SC stops DOTC, LRTA from building common station in front of Trinoma". GMA News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  62. "Line 1 Cavite Extension and Operation & Maintenance". Public-Private Partnership Center. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  63. "Manila Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  64. Garcia, Leandre (July 5, 2021). "The new LRT-2 stations in Marikina and Antipolo are now operational". Top Gear Philippines. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  65. Macaraig, Ayee (May 6, 2014). "Senate panel: Extend PNR, improve services". Rappler . Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  66. Corrales, Nestor (July 23, 2015). "PNR resumes Tutuban-Alabang train operations". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  67. "PNR extends service to Malabon". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  68. "You can now ride the PNR from Los Baños to Metro Manila". TopGear Philippines. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  69. Galvez, Daphne (March 1, 2022). "MRT 3 rehabilitation is finished, says Tugade". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  70. Balinbin, Arjay L. (February 5, 2021). "Deployment of 25 tunnel-boring machines signals big push for subway completion". BusinessWorld. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  71. "Tutuban Center may become Manila's busiest station". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved March 21, 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  72. "LOOK: Gov't to build 3 more Line 2 stations". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on January 23, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  73. "DOTr's Greater Capital Region railway system map previews 'operating lines by 2030'". TopGear Philippines. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  74. "LOOK: Here's What Our Train Lines Might Be Like by 2030". spot.ph. September 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  75. The Line 2 System – The Purple Line. [ca. 2010]. Light Rail Transit Authority. Retrieved January 19, 2010. Archived March 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  76. Razon, Evangeline M. (June 1998). "The Manila LRT System" (PDF). Japan Railway and Transport Review. 16: 38–39. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 24, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  77. Otaki, Tsutomu. (2007). "The Commissioning – In Case of a Project in Manila" (PDF). KS World. 14. Kinki Sharyo: 12–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
  78. Marubeni Philippines. [ca. 2010]. Infrastructure. Retrieved February 17, 2010, from the Marubeni Philippines Website. Archived January 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  79. "Order Received to Supply 240 Train Cars for Philippines' Metro Manila Subway". sumitomocorp.com. Sumitomo Corporation. December 21, 2020. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  80. Uy, Jocelyn (July 20, 2016). "PNR tracks sought for test runs". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  81. "Order Received to Supply 304 for the Philippines' North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project". Sumitomo Corporation. March 18, 2022. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  82. "First 8-car trainset for PNR Clark Phase 1 arrives in PH". ABS-CBN News. November 21, 2021. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  83. Rosales, Elijah Felice (October 10, 2023). "Mitsubishi bags P9 billion airport train deal". Philstar. Retrieved October 10, 2023.

Further reading