New Urban Rail System Section Opens in the Philippines’ Capital Region

A new section of the urban rail system opened in the capital region of the Philippines. On November 16, 2024, Light Rail Manila (LRMC) announced the extension of Line LRT-1. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Construction and Modernization of the Urban Rail System

Bouygues Travaux Publics built five stations along the newly extended 6.2-kilometer section of LRT-1. Alstom designed, supplied, and installed advanced signaling, power, and communication systems to improve operations.

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In 2022, Alstom modernized the initial 20.7-kilometer section of the urban rail system, implementing ETCS Level 1. These upgrades significantly enhanced reliability and efficiency for thousands of daily passengers.

Impact of the Urban Rail System Expansion

The newly extended LRT-1 line connects Quezon City, Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, and Parañaque. With this addition, daily passenger capacity has grown to 400,000, an increase of 80,000 riders.

This project was executed as part of a public-private partnership, supported by a JICA concessional loan. The financing enabled the purchase of 30 CAF Series 13000 trains and the construction of a depot.

Manila’s population, which exceeds 14.9 million residents, benefits greatly from this modernized transit infrastructure. Traffic congestion has been reduced, and harmful emissions have decreased, boosting environmental sustainability.

An efficient urban rail system saves time and money for residents while aligning with sustainable urban development goals. This project improves mobility and significantly enhances the quality of life in the region.

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