A Commuter’s Guide To Metro Manila’s LRT Network

Written by Christian B Padillo

Every major city around the world is known for its own set of public transport infrastructure in the form of a mass transit or railway system, and Manila is no exception. Being the capital city in the Philippines where a huge chunk of major economic activities take place, a mass public transport system is a necessity, more than anywhere else in the country.

Manila currently has 3 railway lines, not including the Philippines National Railways (PNR), which takes the commuting public around the Metro. It’s a fast alternative to get to any point in Manila without having to endure the city’s infamous traffic jams.

Manila’s 2 Light Rail Transport (LRT) and 1 Metro Rail Transit (MRT) may not seem comprehensive, but it’s vast enough to take you to different places and gain access to some areas in the Metro you may find hard to get to by road transport.

To help you get around Manila, we’ll take you on a ride around the Metro with LRT 1 and LRT 2 through this guide!

LRT 1 Stations

The Manila Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), also known as the Green Line is one of the country’s earliest train system and was the second one in South East Asia. This railway stretches from Quezon City to Pasay (and vice versa) with stops in Manila.

This train is the main line to and from the city, thus, it’s primarily used by people who move around the city. It’s normally packed with passengers during weekdays as this mode of transport lets commuters skip the horrendous traffic along EDSA.

Baclaran

This station is along the last stretches of Taft Avenue in Pasay. First train departs at 4:30 AM and the last one departs at 10:00 PM Mondays to Fridays and 9:45 PM on weekends and holidays.

EDSA

Located at the intersection of Taft Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. This is among the busiest station in LRT 1 as it provides access to some of the city’s major destinations such as the SM Mall of Asia and Ninoy Aquino International Airports (the nearest stop of airport shuttles).

Libertad

Located in Pasay, at the corner of Taft Avenue and Arnaiz Avenue. This station is also known as Antonio Arnaiz LRT or Arnaiz station.

Gil Puyat

Located along the stretch of Taft Avenue corner Gil Puyat Avenue, San Isidro, Pasay. This station is also known as Buendia LRT station.

Vito Cruz

Located at Taft Avenue near P. Ocampo St, in Malate. This station has gained some infamy for the number of suicide attempts that it has seen. To deter more unforeseen events, the LRTA imposed a speed limit on trains entering and leaving this station.

Quirino Avenue

The 6th station headed for Roosevelt. It’s located at Taft Avenue cor Pres. Elpidio Quirino Avenue, Malate, Manila.

Quirino LRT station provides access to buses and jeepneys services around Taft Avenue route and nearby routes. The jeepneys and buses stop near the station and can take you in and around Malate.

Pedro Gil

The station serves Ermita in Manila and is located at the corner of Taft Avenue and Pedro Gil Street. It’s the 7th station headed to Roosevelt and 14th if you’re headed for Bacalaran.  This station is also well served by jeepneys and taxis that can take commuters to and from Ermita.

United Nations

This LRT station is the 8th stop going to Rooselvelt or 13th if you’re headed to Roosevelt. It’s located at Taft Avenue Cor. General Luna St. and United Nations Avenue, Ermita, Manila. This station is heavily served by jeepneys and taxis, thus, other public transport is within easy access. It’s also the main stop to many major landmarks in Manila.

Central Terminal

As the name suggests, it’s a major transportation hub not just for LRT passengers but for all commuters. It sits beside a bus terminal with many jeepneys and taxis plying the route. This is also one of the four railway terminals that allow LRT passengers to transfer to a train going in the opposite direction without having to tap out to change platform due to its layout.

Carriedo

The 10th station for trains headed to Roosevelt and the 11th if you’re headed to Baclaran. It’s located at Rizal Avenue, cor. Carriedo St. Santa Cruz and Quiapo, Manila.

Doroteo Jose

This LRT station is located in Santa Cruz in Manila, on Rizal Avenue and slightly past Doroteo Jose Street. It’s the 11th station headed to Roosevelt and 10th if you’re headed for Baclaran. This is also the transfer station between LRT 1 and LRT 2 via a crossway going to the Recto station of LRT-2.

Nearby transportation links include provincial buses which go to Northern Luzon.

Bambang

Located at 1367 Rizal Avenue cor. Bambang St., Santa Cruz, Manila. This is the 9th station from Roosevelt and 12th from Baclaran. Jeepney, tricycles, and taxis towards Santa Cruz, Sampaloc, and Tondo are easily accessible around the LRT station.

Tayuman

Located at 1921 Rizal Avenue Cor. Tayuman Street, Santa Cruz, Manila.  It’s the 8th station towards Baclaran and 13th headed to Roosevelt, and one of the five LRT station in Sta Cruz District. Commuters can easily hail jeepneys, buses, and taxis around this station, which frequently ply the area and routes out of it.

Blumentrit

Located at Rizal Avenue Cor. New Antipolo and Blumentritt Road. It’s the 7th station headed for Baclaran and the 14th for trains headed to Roosevelt. It’s just a walking distance from the Philippine National Railway (PNR), thus it’s a transfer point for people taking that train line. Meanwhile, jeepneys and taxi frequently ply along Rizal Avenue and a transportation terminal is also nearby.

Abad Santos

Located at Rizal Avenue Cor. Abad Santos Avenue, Brgy. 208 Zone 019 Manuguit, Tondo, Manila. The 6th station for LRT-1 trains headed for Baclaran and as the 13th station for trains headed to Roosevelt.

R. Papa

Located at 3405 Rizal Avenue Extension cor. R. Papa Street, Brgy. 190 Obrero, Tondo, Manila. It’s the 6th LRT station from Roosevelt and 16th stop from Baclaran. Tricycles and jeepneys are easily available outside the station. It also shares some key destinations as with the Abad Santos station due to their close proximity.

5th Avenue

This LRT station stands beside the 5th Avenue or C-3 road, thus borrowing its name from. It serves as the 5th stop towards Baclaran or 17th if you’re headed towards Roosevelt.  Jeepney and taxis are also accessible outside the station.

Monumento

The station is located at 706 Rizal Avenue Extension, Grace Park East, Caloocan. It’s the 4th station towards Baclaran and 18th towards Roosevelt. It was recently renovated and relaunched as Yamaha Monumneto LRT Station. This station is a transportation hub as it houses a terminal and transfer point for buses and jeepneys going to Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela, and Novata via Samson Road and Samson Highway.

Malvar

The first of two recent additions to the Green Line, it answered people’s calls for a closer station to Balintawak market and its many transportation options. Located at 317 Epifanio de los Santos Avenue corner n. Malvar Street, Brgy. 136 Zone 12, Bagong Barrio West.

Balintawak

It is the 2nd stop for trains heading to Baclaran, and the 20th for trains headed to Roosevelt. Located at 1179 Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Brgy. Apolonio Samson, Balintawak, Quezon City, in front of the Balintawak Market. Several provincial buses headed to the north can be accessed around this station, same goes for jeepneys.  While not exactly nearby, a shuttle service from this station ferries commuters to Ayala Malls Cloverleaf and vice versa.

Roosevelt

This is currently the last stop for the Green Line (LRT2), and it brings passengers close enough to SM City North EDSA without braving the horrendous EDSA traffic. P2P Buses going to Ayala are accessible at SM North EDSA

The LRT network in Metro Manila is set to expand its reach even further in the coming year when this station is completed.

North Avenue (upcoming)

This station is currently under construction and is slated to operate in the last quarter of 2019. It is a centralized station that will link LRT1 to MRT3. It will also be a connecting hub for LRT and MRT 7 which is also currently under construction and is slated for a 2020 opening.

LRT1 Extension

The LRT1 Cavite extension is projected to help expand the current capacity of the LRT1 line to give access to another 800,000 people and cut travel time from Manila to Cavite to 25 minutes instead of an hour. Its construction started last April, and it is slated to be partially operational by the last quarter of 2021.

LRT 2 Stations

This train system takes commuters from east to the west side of Manila. It extends from Manila, ending in Makati with a few stops in San Juan and Quezon City. This is the youngest railway system in the country as it was built in 2003, and it’s the shortest as it only carries passengers through the Metro Manila area. LRT 2 Station’s first trip both from Antipolo and Recto departs at 5:00 AM while the last trip would be 9:00 PM for Antipolo and 9:30 PM for Recto. Compared to the other train lines, the LRT-2 or the blue line is the least packed train line, even during peak hours. This train line is only composed of 11 stations, which are the following:

Recto

This station is located at Recto Avenue Santa Cruz, Manila. The first of 11 stations if you’re headed for Santolan and it’s connected to the Green Line via Doroteo Jose Station.  It’s also a main transportation hub as all modes of transport are easily accessible in the area and a transportation terminal is also situated near the station.

Legarda

Located at Legarda Street, San Miguel, Manila and the second station to Santolan from the west side and 10th station if you’re commuting from Santolan. This station is near the university belt, making it popular among students.

Pureza LRT

Located along Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard cor. Pureza Street, Santa Mesa, Manila, it is the third station from Recto and ninth from Santolan station. It’s also in close proximity with the Philipine National Railway Station, which is just a short walk from the Pureza LRT station. Other mode of transport available in the area are tricycles and jeepneys in a terminal bound for Tayuman.

V. Mapa LRT

This station is located at Magsaysay Boulevard, Santa Mesa, Manila. This is also an alternative stop for commuters (mostly students) heading to PUP, and it’s also nearest to Greenhills and Orgitas business district with buses heading to Cainta and Taytay easily accessible from this station. It’s the 4th station from Rector LRT and the 8th from Santolan. This station also have access to numerous public transport options such as jeepneys, buses, and taxis.

J. Ruiz LRT

Located at Aurora Boulevard Cor. Juan Ruiz Street, Brgy. Ermitaño, San Juan. This is the fifth station from Recto and the 7th from Santolan, and is the only LRT station in San Juan that’s nearby Quezon City before entering Manila. Nearby public transports are easily available around the station, such as jeepneys, buses, taxis, and tricycles.

This station primarily serves commuters headed towards the inner areas of San Juan which is mostly a residential area, with a few major destinations nearby.

Gilmore

Located at Aurora Boulevard cor Gilmore Avenue, Brgy. Mariana, New Manila, Quezon City, it’s the 6th station to and from Recto and is a famous stop for gadget enthusiasts. It’s also the closest station to one of the major television networks in the country.  Nearby public transport such as jeepneys, taxis, buses, and tricycles are in the vicinity, so heading deep into Quezon City from this station should be easy.

Betty Go-Belmonte

Located at Aurora Boulevard Cor. Betty Go-Belmonte Street., Brgy. Immaculate Conception, New Manila, Quezon City. One of the stations that serve Quezon City commuters, it is the

7th station from Recto and the 5th from Santolan. Just like other stations in Quezon City, other modes of public transport are available within the station’s vicinity.

Araneta Center Cubao

Located along Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City, it is usually just called Cubao LRT.  This station is the 8th station from Recto and the 4th from Santolan. It serves as one of the major stops for commuters as it’s connected to a transport hub, Cubao. Since this stop is a major transportation hub, all sorts of public transport modes can be found here. It’s also the transit point for commuters transferring to the MRT-3 line as it is also connected to the Cubao LRT via the Gateway Mall walkway.

Anonas
Located along Aurora Boulevard Cor. Anonas Street, Cubao, Quezon City. It’s the 9th station from Recto and 3rd from Santolan and brings passengers to a whole host of transportation options that ply the Anonas Ave. and Aurora Blvd. routes.

Katipunan

Located at Aurora Boulevard Cor. Katipunan Avenue (C.P. Garcia Avenue) Loyola Heights, Quezon City.  This station is the 10th station from Recto and 2nd from Santolan, which mainly serves students from Ateneo De Manila and UP who wants to avoid the traffic jam going into the university.

Other modes of public transport are also abundant in the area which is primarily there to help students move from the LRT station to the different universities in the locale.

Santolan

This LRT station is the last stop in the east and the first stop if you’re headed west (to Recto). It’s located along Marcos Highway, Calumpang, Marikina City. While there aren’t many major destinations in this area, this station, however, provides easy access to major business districts such as Eastwood City, Ortigas Center, Makati Central Business District, Fort Bonifacio Global City as well as NAIA and SLEX. Taking taxis from this area to the mentioned destinations would cut your travel time drastically and let you avoid Metro Manila’s infamous traffic.

LRT2 West-East Extension

Projected to complete by 2023, the LRT2 West-East extension will add 16,000 daily passengers to the capacity of the LRT2 line, connecting Recto to Pier 4. It will see three additional stations: Divisoria, Tutuban, and Pier 4.

This article was first published in January 2019 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.