MANILA MRT
USEFUL INFORMATION
- OPERATION
LRT 1: 5:00 - 21:00
MRT 2: 6:00 - 20:00
MRT 3: 6:00 - 21:30
- FARES (2006)
MRT 1 : 12-15 pesos
LRT 2 : 12-15 pesos
MRT 3 : 10-15 pesos
THE SYSTEM
Metro-Manila, the metropolitan area of the capital of the Philippines is home to some 10 million people. A 3-line light metro system (Mass Rail Transit - MRT), which runs mainly elevated, is planned:
MRT 1 is a fully elevated north-south route, which opened on 1 Dec. 1984 (7 km) and in June 1985 (8 km). It runs along Rizal and Taft Avenues (15 km, 18 stations). The line runs on a precast concrete structure 7 m above the street, designed to withstand earthquakes. It has 1435 mm gauge and 750 V overhead power supply. Average station distance is 825 m, stations are only accessible via stairs, there are no elevators or escalators. Central, Northern and Southern Terminals function as transfer stations to buses and jeepneys. Trains operate in 2-4 car units (one car is 29.3 m long and 2.5 m wide) and have roof ventilation. A 12 km southern extension will be built by SNC-Lavalin (Canada).
LRT 2 (Megatren) runs from Manila in the west via Quezon City to Pasig in the east. The line is elevated except for Katipunan station, which is underground. Construction of this line started in 1998 and it runs along Recto Ave, Magsaysay Blvd and Aurora Blvd. On 5 April 2003 the first stretch from Santolan to Cubao opened (4.3km). The full length from Santolan to Recto Ave. is 13.8 km with 11 stations.
MRT 3 (popularly called METROSTAR) runs elevated along EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Ave.) ring road (except Buendia station which is underground). The central section opened on 16 Dec. 1999, the southern section, which connects to MRT 1 followed on 20 July 2000. The total length is now 16.8 km, once the northern section is built the line will be 24 km.
