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Manila Light Rail Transit System Sistema ng Magaan na Riles Panlulan ng Maynila
File:LRTA Logo.png
Overview
Locale	Metro Manila
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	2
Number of stations	29
Daily ridership	550,000 (2008)
Operation
Began operation	December 1, 1984
Operator(s)	Light Rail Transit Authority
Technical
System length	34.5 km
Track gauge	1435 mm (standard gauge)

The Manila Light Rail Transit System (Filipino: Sistema ng Magaan na Riles Panlulan ng Maynila), popularly known as the LRT, is one of two main metropolitan rail systems serving the Metro Manila area in the Philippines. It is composed of two lines: the older LRT Line 1, called the Yellow Line, and the newer LRT Line 2, called the Purple Line. Overall, twenty-nine stations over 28.8 kilometers of track serve the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Marikina, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, and San Juan.

Although referred to as a "light rail" system, arguably because the network is mostly elevated and originally used light rail rolling stock, it is more akin to a rapid transit (metro) system. Four kinds of railcars have been used throughout its history. It is operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), a government-owned and controlled corporation under the authority of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Along with the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT, also called the Blue Line), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR), the LRT is part of Metro Manila's rail transportation infrastructure known as the Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS).

The network is inexpensive and convenient. While the original LRT Line 1 was built as a no frills means of public transport and lacked some features and creature comforts, the new LRT Line 2 has been built with additional standards and criteria in mind like barrier free access. A recyclable plastic magnetic ticketing system has replaced the previous token based system and a flash pass introduced as a step towards a more integrated transportation system. Security guards are found at each station to conduct inspections and provide assistance.

Many passengers who ride the LRT also take various forms of road-based public transport, such as buses, to and from a LRT station to reach their intended destination. Although it aims to reduce traffic congestion and travel times in the metropolis, the transportation system has only been partially successful due to the rising number of motor vehicles and rapid urbanization. The network's expansion is set on tackling this problem.

Network

See also: List of LRT stations

Current system map of the Manila LRT

The Yellow Line forms the vertical left side and slightly rounded top of a D that is completed by the Blue Line forming the rest of the D's semicircle. The Purple Line, roughly horizontal but angled slightly upward, bisects this D shape. From the top left, the PNR or Orange Line starts parallel and to the left of the Yellow Line then semicircles through it and the Purple Line before once again resuming a roughly parallel direction angled slightly away to the right of the Yellow Line and passes through the Blue Line. Metro Manila SRTS map showing the Yellow (LRT Line 1), Purple (LRT Line 2), Blue (MRT 3), and Orange (PNR) Lines as well as currently under construction LRT Line 1 north extension.

The LRT network consists of two lines: the original LRT Line 1 or Yellow Line and the more modern LRT Line 2 or Purple Line. The Yellow Line has eighteen stations aligned in a general north-south direction over 15 kilometers of fully elevated track. Commencing in Monumento it runs south above Rizal and Taft Avenues before ending in Baclaran. A three-station east-west extension along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue that will connect Monumento to the North Avenue MRT Station is currently under construction. The Purple Line consists of eleven stations in a general east-west direction over 13.8 kilometers of mostly elevated track, with one station lying underground. The line commences at Recto and follows a corridor defined by Recto and Legarda Avenues, Ramon Magsaysay and Aurora Boulevards, and Marcos Highway before ending in Santolan. There are two depots for the entire system: the Yellow Line uses Baclaran Depot, which is at LRTA headquarters in Pasay City near Baclaran Terminal, while the Purple Line uses Santolan Depot in Marikina City near Santolan Station in Pasig City. Overall, the network has 29 stations over 28.8 kilometers of track, passing through the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Marikina, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, and San Juan.

Recto and Doroteo Jose serve as the sole interchange between both lines of the LRT. Araneta Center-Cubao and EDSA stations serve as interchanges between the LRT network and the MRT, also known as the Blue Line. To transfer lines, passengers will need to exit from the station they are in then pass through covered walkways connecting the stations. The network has six terminal stations: Baclaran, Central Terminal and Monumento for the Yellow Line; Recto, Araneta Center-Cubao, and Santolan for the Purple Line. All terminal stations are located on or near major transport routes where passengers can take other forms of transportation such as privately run buses and jeepneys to reach their ultimate destination both within Metro Manila and in neighboring provinces.

The LRT is open every day of the year from 5:00 am PST (UTC+8) until 11:00 pm on weekdays, and from 5:00 am until 9:30 pm on weekends, except when announced. Notice of special schedules is given through press releases, via the public address system in every station, and on the LRTA website.

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History

The roots of the LRT date back to the American colonial period. In 1905, the first of twelve mandated electric tranvia (tram) lines operated by the Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company (Meralco) opened in Manila. At the end of the first year around 63 kilometers (39 mi) of track had been laid. A five-year reconstruction program was initiated in 1920, and by 1924, 170 cars serviced many parts of the city and its outskirts. An efficient system for the city's 220,000 inhabitants, by the 1930s the tranvia had stopped expanding. [[:Image:Tramvia co history.jpg|thumb|left|270px|alt=An electric trolley with a man hanging off one side rounds a corner of a street lined by two-story stores and horse-drawn kalesas. |A tranvia from the 1910s]] World War II shut the system down. By the war's end, the tram network was damaged beyond repair amid a city that lay in ruins. It was dismantled and jeepneys became the city's primary form of transportation, plying the routes once served by the tram lines. 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. The monorail's feasibility study was still being completed, when the government asked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to conduct a separate transport study. Done between 1971 and 1973, the JICA study's findings proposed a series of circumferential and radial roads, an inner-city rapid transit system, a commuter railway, and an expressway with three branches. A further study was made on how to implement these systems. While many recommendations were implemented, none of the recommendations involved rapid transit, and the monorail was never built. PMTS' franchise subsequently expired in 1974.

Between 1976 and 1977, another study was done by Freeman, Fox & Associates, funded by the World Bank. Though it originally suggested a street-level railway, the newly-formed Ministry of Transportation and Communications (now the DOTC) revised the recommendations, calling instead for an elevated system because of the city's many intersections. The revised recommendation, however, increased the price of the project from 1.5 billion to 2 billion Philippine pesos (₱). A supplementary study conducted by another foreign firm was completed within three months.

A Yellow Line train approaching EDSA station

Heeding the call of both reports, President Ferdinand Marcos created the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) on July 12, 1980 by virtue of Executive Order No. 603 giving birth to what was then dubbed the "Metrorail". First Lady Imelda Marcos, then governor of Metro Manila and minister of human settlements, became its first chairman. Although responsible for all operations of the LRT, the LRTA primarily confined itself to setting and regulating fares, planning extensions and determining rules and policies, leaving the job of actual operations to a sister company of Meralco called the Meralco Transit Organization (METRO Inc.). Initial assistance for the project came in the form of a ₱300 million soft loan from the Belgian government, with an additional ₱700 million coming from a consortium of companies comprising SA Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi (ACEC) and BN Constructions Ferroviaires et Métalliques (today both part of Bombardier Transportation), Tractionnel Engineering International (TEI) and Transurb Consult (TC). Although expected to pay for itself from revenues within twenty years of the start of operation, it was initially estimated that the system would lose money until at least 1993. For its first year of operation, despite a projected ₱365 million in gross revenue, losses of ₱216 million were thought likely.

Construction of the Yellow Line started in September 1981 with the Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines (now the Philippine National Construction Corporation) as the contractor with assistance from Losinger, a Swiss firm, and the Philippine subsidiary of Dravo, an American firm. The government appointed Electrowatt Engineering Services of Zürich to oversee construction and eventually became responsible for the extension studies of future expansion projects. The line was test-run in March 1984, and on December 1, 1984, the first half of the Yellow Line, from Baclaran to Central Terminal, was opened. The second half, from Central Terminal to Monumento, was opened on May 12, 1985.

A Purple Line train at J. Ruiz station

Unexpectedly, overcrowding and heavy usage took its toll a few years after opening. In 1990, the Yellow Line fell so far into disrepair due to premature wear and tear that trains headed to Central Terminal station had to crawl to avoid further damage to the support beams below as cracks reportedly began to appear. The premature ageing of the Yellow Line led to an extensive refurbishing and structural capacity expansion program which is still being implemented today.

For the next few years, LRT operations ran smoothly until 2000, when the employees of METRO Inc. held a strike against the LRTA and paralyzed Yellow Line operations from July 25 to August 2, 2000. Because of this, the LRTA did not renew its operating contract with METRO Inc. which expired on July 31, 2000 and assumed all operational responsibility.

Construction of the Purple Line began in the 1990s, and on April 5, 2003, the first section of the Purple Line, from Santolan to Araneta Center-Cubao, was opened. The second section, from Araneta Center-Cubao to Legarda, was opened exactly a year later, with the line being fully operational by October 29, 2004. During that time, the already-existing Yellow Line was also modernized, with new magnetic stripe plastic tickets and automated ticketing systems, as well as air-conditioned trains. Connections between the Yellow, Purple and Blue Lines, as well as other projects, were also completed. In 2005, the LRTA made a profit of ₱68 million, the first time the agency made a profit since the LRT became operational in 1984.

Stations

A relatively empty boarding platform with only a handful of people identified by a sign as that at Vito Cruz station. Pebbles line the tracks and sunlight comes in from spaces open to the outside and large open flaps in the dark warehouse-like roof.

While the concourse and platform areas of Yellow Line stations are both located on the same level...

An empty boarding platform well-lit by sunlight streaming from windows on the walls and ceiling from which hangs a yellow latticed net of metal.

...platforms are located on a separate level at Purple Line stations.

With the exception of Katipunan station (which is underground), all stations on the LRT are elevated. They follow one of two different layouts: Yellow Line stations are generally composed of only one level accessible from street level by stairway, containing the station's concourse and platform areas, separated by fare gates. Yellow Line terminal stations, like Baclaran, and all Purple Line stations, however, are composed of two levels: a lower concourse level and an upper platform level (this is reversed in the case of Katipunan). Fare gates separate the concourse level from the stairs and escalators that provide access to the platform level. All LRT stations have side platforms except for Baclaran, which has one side and one island platform, and Santolan, which has an island platform. Because of the use of side platforms, Yellow Line passengers need to exit the station (and by extension, the system) and pay a new fare in order to access the other platform for the train bound in the opposite direction. Seamless transfer between platforms (that is, without needing to exit the system) is possible on the Purple Line.

The concourse area at LRT stations typically contain a passenger assistance office (PAO), ticket purchasing areas (ticket counters and/or ticket machines), and at least one stall that sells food and drinks. Terminal stations also have a public relations office. Stores where passengers can purchase mobile phone credits and other goods and ATMs are usually found at street level outside the station, although there are instances where they can be found within the concourse. Some stations, such as Central Terminal and Araneta Center-Cubao, are directly connected to shopping malls. All LRT stations have a restroom, but Yellow Line restrooms have been the subject of much criticism not only because stations are equipped with only a single bathroom serving all passengers (whether male, female, disabled or otherwise), but also because of their uncleanliness and the impression they are the source of cases of urinary tract infections. Purple Line stations are equipped with two restrooms.

In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, copies of the Inquirer Libre, a free, tabloid-size, Tagalog version of the Inquirer broadsheet, are available from 6:00 am until supplies run out at selected LRT stations.

The LRT was not originally built with accessibility in mind. This is reflected in the Yellow Line's original lack of barrier-free facilities, such as escalators, elevators, wide fare gates or reserved areas for wheelchairs. However, the newer Purple Line, unlike its counterpart, is designed to be barrier-free. Wheelchair ramps, braille markings, and path finding embossed flooring leading to and from the boarding platforms and elevators have been installed in addition to the escalators and elevators found in every LRT 2 station.

Rolling stock

An angled side view of trolley like railcars with relatively large windows passing along an elevated concrete viaduct with electric posts and wires overhead and a road and cars underneath First generation Yellow Line train headed towards Baclaran Station

A second generation Yellow Line train at Gil Puyat Station

A third generation Yellow Line train heading to EDSA Station

A Purple Line train at Recto Station

Four types of rolling stock run on the LRT, with three types used on the Yellow Line and another used on the Purple Line.

Yellow Line

The Yellow Line at various stages in its history has used a two-car, three-car, and four-car train. The railcars were made either in Belgium by ACEC, South Korea by Adtranz (both companies are now part of Bombardier Transportation), or Japan by Kinki Sharyo. The two-car trains are the original first-generation ACEC trains (railcars numbered from 1000). Most were transformed into three-car trains, although some two-car trains remain in service. The four-car trains are the more modern second-generation Hyundai/Adtranz (numbered from 1100) and third-generation Kinki Sharyo (1200) trains.

To cope with increasing ridership, the Yellow Line fleet is undergoing modernization. Train capacity was increased to 1350 passengers (the original two-car trains could hold 748 passengers while the modified three-car trains could hold 1122 passengers) and air conditioning has been added to the original fleet. There are 139 railcars serving the line (40 trainsets); 63 of these are first generation cars, 28 second generation, and 48 third generation. The maximum speed of these cars is 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph).

Yellow Line rolling stock in the past were particularly notorious for their lack of air conditioning. Instead, forced-air roof ventilation was used. Unfortunately, the use of forced-air roof ventilation led to a very hot and stuffy ride aboard the line. The problem was first addressed in 2001 under the LRTA's still-ongoing capacity expansion program and by June 2004, all Yellow Line trains had air conditioning.

Rolling Stock	Old Fleet (2-car train)	Transformed Train (3-car train)	New Fleet (4-car train)
Car-type	8-axle (4 bogie) rigid body	8-axle (4 bogie) rigid body	6-axle (3 bogie) rigid body
Car-size	2.5m wide; 29.28m long	2.5m wide; 29.28m long	2.59m wide; 26-26.5m long
Train Length	(2-car) 59.59m	(3-car) 89.37m	(4-car) 105.7m
Articulation	double	double	single
Capacity	748 passengers	1,122 passengers	1,350 passengers
Doors	plug-type; 5-doors/side	plug-type; 5-doors/side	interior sliding type; 4-doors/side
Traction System	DC induction mono-motor	DC induction mono-motor	AC induction mono-motor
Traction Power	750dc OCS; pantograph power connection	750dc OCS; pantograph power connection	750dc OCS; pantograph power connection
Carbody Shell	BI sheet	BI sheet	stainless steel
Ventilation	air-conditioned; previously forced ventilation	air-conditioned; previously forced ventilation	air-conditioned; roof-mounted duct type; 2 units/car

Source: LRTA

As part of the second phase of expansion on the Yellow Line, twelve new trains made in Japan by Kinki Sharyo and provided by the Manila Tren Consortium were shipped in the third quarter of 2006 and went into service in the first quarter of 2007. The new air-conditioned trains feature ergonomic seating and other features designed to make it more user-friendly and have boosted the capacity of the line from 27,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) to 40,000 pphpd.

Purple Line

The Purple Line, unlike the Yellow Line, runs heavy rail metro cars made in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem and provided by the Asia-Europe MRT Consortium led by Marubeni Corporation. The Purple Line fleet runs eighteen four-car trains with light weight stainless carbodies powered by 1500 volt electric motors. They have a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour (50mph) and usually take around thirty minutes to journey from one end of the line to the the other. Each train measures around 3.2 meters wide and 92.6 meters long allowing a capacity of 1628 passengers: 232 seated and 1396 standing. 20 sliding doors per side facilitate quick entry and exit. The line's trains also feature air-conditioning, driverless automatic train operation from the Operations Control Center (OCC) in Santolan, low noise control, enabled electric and regenerative braking, and closed-circuit television inside the trains. Special open spaces and seats are designated for wheelchair-bound and elderly passengers and automatic next station announcements are made for the convenience of passengers especially the visually impaired.

Safety

The LRT has always presented itself as a safe system to travel on and despite some incidents the running of metro rail transit operations overall has been judged "good". Safety notices in both English and Tagalog are a common sight at LRT stations and inside LRT trains. In the event of emergencies or unexpected events aboard the LRT, the following code alerts are used to inform passengers about the current state of LRT operations:

Alert	Result
Code Blue	Results in an increased interval time between train arrivals
Code Yellow	Results in a slight delay in the departure and arrival of trains from the stations
Code Red	Results in the temporary suspension of all LRT services due to technical problems

Rules

Eating or drinking is prohibited inside the platform area of all LRT stations and inside the trains. Smoking, previously banned only at station platforms and inside trains, has likewise been banned at station concourse areas since June 24, 2008. Hazardous chemicals, such as paint and gasoline, as well as sharp pointed objects that could be used as weapons, are forbidden. Full-sized bicycles and skateboards are also not allowed on board the LRT, although the ban on folding bicycles was lifted on November 8, 2009. Passengers at LRT stations are advised not to stay too close to the red tiles at the edge of the platforms (or yellow tiles in the case of the Purple Line) to avoid falling onto the tracks. Those under the influence of alchohol may be denied entry into the stations to prevent trouble and misunderstandings.

Starting May 1, 2007, the LRTA began enforcing a policy against making false bomb threats, a policy already enforced at airports nationwide. Those who make threats can face penalties in violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727, as well as face legal action.

Security

In response to the Rizal Day bombings and the September 11 attacks, security has been stepped up onboard the LRT. The Philippine National Police has a special LRT police force, and security police provided by private companies are assigned to all LRT stations with each having a designated head guard. Closed-circuit televisions have been installed to monitor stations and keep track of suspicious activities. To better prepare for and improve response to any adverse incidents, drills simulating terror attacks have been conducted.

It is standard practice for bags to be inspected upon entry into stations by guards equipped with hand-held metal detectors. Those who refuse to submit to such inspection may be denied entry. Posted notices on station walls and inside trains remind passengers to be careful and be wary of criminals who may take advantage of the crowding aboard LRT trains.

Fares

The LRT is one of the least expensive rapid transit systems in Southeast Asia, costing significantly less to ride than other systems in the region. Fares are distance-based, ranging from ₱12 to ₱15 (about 23 to 29 U.S. cents), depending on the number of stations traveled to reach the destination.

The Yellow Line uses two different fare structures: one for single journey ticket holders and one for stored value ticket holders. Passengers in possession of single journey tickets are charged ₱12 for the first four stations and ₱15 for subsequent stations. For stored value ticket holders, passengers are charged ₱12 for the first four stations, ₱13 for five to eight stations, ₱14 for nine to twelve stations and ₱15 for more than twelve stations or the entire line.

The Purple Line, on the other hand, has only one fare structure for single journey and stored value tickets. Passengers are charged ₱12 for the first three stations, ₱13 for a journey covering four to six stations, ₱14 for seven to nine stations and ₱15 for more than nine stations or the entire line.

Yellow Line Distance (No. of Stations) <5 5-8 9-12 13-17 Single Journey Ticket Fare (₱) 12 15 15 15 Stored Value Ticket Fare (₱) 12 13 14 15

Purple Line Distance (No. of Stations) <4 4-6 7-9 10 Single Journey Ticket Fare or Stored Value Ticket Fare (₱) 12 13 14 15

Tickets

Tickets are sold over the counter at Yellow Line stations, while ticket machines have been installed on the Purple Line. Passengers can enter the LRT paid areas with either a magnetic ticket or a flash pass. Unlike other transportation systems where transfer to another line happens within a station's paid area, a passenger will need to exit the paid area of the line he came from and pay a new fare for the line he is entering.

Magnetic ticket

thumb|right|200x100px|A sample Yellow Line ticket Before 2001, passengers on the Yellow Line would purchase a token to enter the station. Subsequent upgrades in the fare collection system eventually transitioned the Yellow Line from a token-based system to a ticket-based system, with full conversion to a ticket-based system being achieved on September 9, 2001. The ticket is used as follows: a passenger enters the paid area of the LRT by inserting a recyclable magnetic ticket into the fare gate which is almost instantaneously processed and ejected allowing the passenger through the turnstile. The passenger must then remember to take the ejected ticket while passing through so that it can be used at the exit turnstile at the destination station to leave the premises. The tickets are captured by the exit turnstiles if they no longer have any value or are once again ejected to be taken by the passenger for future use if they are stored value tickets that have not been completely used up.

thumb|left|150px|A sample Purple Line ticketCurrently the LRT uses two types of tickets: a single journey (one-way) ticket whose cost is dependent on the destination, and a stored value (multiple-use) ticket which is available for ₱100. Senior citizens and disabled passengers may avail of fare discounts as mandated by law. Tickets would normally bear a picture of the incumbent president (currently Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), though some ticket designs have done away with this practice.

Single journey tickets are only valid on the day of purchase and will be unusable afterward. They expire if not used to exit the same station after 30 minutes from entry or if not used to exit the system after 120 minutes from entry. If the ticket expires, the passenger will be required to buy a new one. Stored value tickets employ a scheme called the "Last Ride Bonus", where the final ride of the stored value ticket is given for free, regardless of direction. A condition in using the Last Ride Bonus, however, is that the amount of money remaining in the card must be less than the minimum ₱12 LRT fare or the appropriate fare for the station of arrival from the station of departure. This is a scheme the LRTA is using to promote the use of stored value tickets among passengers, reducing ticket queues in the process. Stored value tickets are not reloadable and are captured by the fare gate after the last use. They expire six months after the date of first use.

Flash Pass

To better integrate the LRT and MRT networks together, a unified ticketing system utilizing contactless smart cards, similar to the Octopus card in Hong Kong and the EZ-Link card in Singapore, was envisioned as a main project of the SRTS. To ease the transition towards a unified ticketing system, the Flash Pass was first implemented on April 19, 2004 as a stopgap measure. However, plans for a unified ticketing system have languished, leaving the Flash Pass to fill the role for the foreseeable future. While the Flash Pass is honored by the LRT, the Light Rail Transit Authority no longer sells them. Only the Metro Rail Transit Corporation, the Blue Line operator, offers them for sale.

thumb|none|150px|A sample Flash Pass Card

thumb|none|150px|A sample Flash Pass Coupon

The pass consists of two parts: the Flash Pass Card and the Flash Pass Coupon. The Flash Pass Card is issued the first time a Flash Pass Coupon is purchased by a passenger and is used to validate a Flash Pass Coupon, as well as to purchase subsequent Flash Pass Coupons. The Flash Pass Coupon, on the other hand, is the actual ticket and is directly linked to the passenger's Flash Pass Card through the card number being written on the coupon. Though the card is issued free of charge and contains no expiry date, the coupon costs ₱250 and is valid for unlimited rides on all three lines of the LRT and MRT for one week.

Future expansion

Plans for expanding the LRT network have been formulated throughout its history, and successive administrations have touted the LRT as one of the keys to decongesting Metro Manila and relieving the metropolis of its long-standing traffic problems. The expansion of the LRT is one of the key projects in the ten-point agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Extensions

A rendering of the possible LRT network after various expansions. The map also shows other parts of the SRTS, such as the Blue and Orange Lines.

A previous proposal to extend the MRT westward to Monumento has been dropped and instead an eastern extension of the Yellow Line towards North Avenue MRT Station, traversing EDSA and linking the Yellow and Blue Lines adopted. It is envisaged that the termini for the Blue and Yellow Lines will connect with the terminus of the proposed MRT-7 (see below). Construction of the extension began July 2008, with a target completion date of April to May 2010.

A southern extension of the Yellow Line, also known as LRT-6, has also been proposed. The envisioned extension line would have 10 stations over 11.7 kilometers ending in Bacoor in the province of Cavite. It would be the first line extending outside the Metro Manila area. An unsolicited bid to conduct this work from Canada's SNC-Lavalin was rejected by the Philippine government in 2005. In 2006, the government is working with advisers (International Finance Corporation, White & Case, Halcrow and others) to conduct an open-market invitation to tender for the extension and a 30-year concession to run the extended LRT-1 line. An additional 11-kilometer extension from Bacoor to Imus and from there a further extension to Dasmariñas, both in Cavite, are also being considered.

There are also plans for a 4-kilometer eastern extension of the Purple Line from Marikina City, crossing into Cainta in Rizal and finally to Masinag Junction in Antipolo City, also in Rizal. It was approved in principle by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), but the actual proposal is pending before the NEDA secretariat. In the future, the line could be extended as far west as Manila North Harbor and as far east as Cogeo in Antipolo.

New lines

MRT-7 is a planned 13-station, 21-kilometer line that starts in Quezon City and traverses Commonwealth Avenue, passing through Caloocan City and ending in the city of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. This line finished the bidding stage and has been approved by the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation and Communications.

MRT-8, or the East Rail Line, is a proposed 48-kilometer line crossing through Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna and Rizal. Several tunnel sections between the municipalities of Pililla in Rizal and Santa Cruz in Laguna would be built in the process. Phase I of the line would begin in Santa Mesa in Manila and end in Angono in Rizal, and would consist of 16.8 kilometers of elevated track, following the general alignment of Shaw Boulevard and Ortigas Avenue.

See also

• List of rapid transit systems
• List of Strong Republic Transit System stations
• Rizal Day bombings
• Transportation in the Philippines

External links

• Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities - Philippines
• Manila rail transit network map
• Railways and Industrial Heritage Society of the Phils., Inc.
• Urbanrail.net - Manila LRT