I.

Introduction

Manila LRT Purple Line

Megatren Overview Type Status Termini Stations Services Operation Opened Owner Operator(s) Rolling stock Technical Line length Track gauge Electrification Operating speed 13.8 km (8.6 miles) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) Standard gauge Overhead line 80 km/h (50 mph) April 5, 2003 Light Rail Transit Authority Light Rail Transit Authority Hyundai Rotem EMU Rapid transit Operational Santolan Recto 11 1

The Manila LRT Purple Line (LRT-2) is the second line of the Manila Light Rail Transit System. The line contains eleven stations and runs over 13.8 kilometres of mostly elevated track, with the exception of Katipunan station, which is underground. As the name implies, the line is colored purple on all LRT maps. The line runs in a general east-west direction, linking the cities of Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina and Pasig. Passengers can transfer to the Yellow Line at Recto station, while passengers can transfer to the Blue Line at Araneta Center-Cubao station.

Before the launch of the Strong Republic Transit System, the Purple Line was known as MRT Line 2, shortened to LRT-2, or the Megatren. The former names are still used colloquially. However, the purple color of the line dates back to its opening in 2003. Unlike the LRT Line 1 and the MRT Line 3, this line uses heavy rail metro vehicles. The LRT-2 network The line serves 11 stations on 13.8 kilometers (8.6 mi) of line. It is mostly elevated, with some sections underground. The line commences at Recto Avenue (Recto on the map) and ends at Santolan Road (Santolan on the map), serving the cities that Radial Road 6 (Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda Avenue and C.M. Recto Avenue) passes through: Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, and Marikina City. Araneta Center-Cubao is an interchange with the MRT network, with Araneta Center-Cubao connected to its namesake station on the Blue Line while Recto is an interchange with the LRT-1 network, with Recto connected to Doroteo Jose on the Yellow Line. The line's interchanges have been designated as transport hubs, where commuters can change to and from take other forms of public transport. The LRT-2 is open from 5:00 a.m. PST (UTC+8) until 10:00 p.m during weekdays while 5:00 a.m. PST (UTC+8) until 9:30 p.m during weekends and holidays. LRTA extended its operation hours. The extended hours were primarily aimed at serving call center agents and other workers in the business process outsourcing sector. However, the extended operation hours were called off when Rafael Rodrguez took over as LRTA undersecretary. Special schedules are announced via the PA system in every station and also in newspapers and other mass media. It is open every day of the year except when announced, and during Holy Week, when it is closed for annual maintenance, owing to fewer commuters and lower levels of traffic congestion on EDSA. Normal operation resumes after Black Saturday or Easter Sunday. History The Megatren system was built at a cost of P31 billion in soft loans mainly from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). This was a very concessional loan, with 2 percent interest for three packages, and payable for 30 years with a 10-year grace period. The Asia Europe MRT Consortium, led by the Marubeni Corporation, has delivered 18 new four - car trains. Each train is 92.6 meters long and consists of four motorized cars. One train can seat 232 passengers. It can accommodate 1,396 more standing passengers along its spacious coaches. Compared with the previous light rail projects, LRT-2 was more difficult to build because of highly technical problems. Several international companies participated in the project, which consists of four contract packages. Package 1 is the depot in Santolan, Pasig where the 18 trains are stabled, and where the employees quarters, and offices are based. Package 2 consists of the substructures, mainly the railways foundations including the columns and pilings that support the guideways. Package 3 forms the superstructure composed of the girders, or beams that support the train rails, the viaduct,

and the train stations. Package 4 includes the electro-mechanical systems, the rolling stocks, the track works, including the network of cables and poles that transmit power to the trains. The pre-casting segmental method (PSM), was used in building the viaduct or the long stretch of suspension bridges resting on the concrete towers. The Megatren Line 2 project pioneered the use of the PSM technology or the pre-casting of the girders into smaller segments so that each span connected between two columns weigh not more than 58 tons. On April 5, 2003, the initial section, from Santolan to Araneta Center-Cubao opened, followed on exactly after one year which is April 5, 2004, from Araneta Center-Cubao to Legarda and finally on October 29, 2004 the final segment from Legarda to Recto opened. Station layout and accessibility Stations have a standard layout, with a concourse level and a platform level. The concourse is usually above the platform, with stairs, escalators and elevators leading down to the platform level. The levels are separated by fare gates. The concourse contains ticket booths. Some stations, such as Araneta Center-Cubao, are connected at concourse level to nearby buildings, such as shopping malls, for easier accessibility. Almost all Stations have side platforms with the exception of Santolan which has an island platform. Part of the platform at the front of the train is cordoned off for the use of women, children, elderly and disabled passengers. At side-platform stations passengers need not to enter the concourse area to enter the other platform or go through bridges atop some stations for it has a small center island in which they can transfer trains if there is a train in the other side of the platform via the left door which is called the Seamless transfer system which can only be found in this line, while passengers can easily switch sides at the station with island platform. Stations have toilets at the concourse level. All stations are barrier-free inside and outside the station, and trains have spaces for wheelchair-bound passengers. Shops and services Inside the concourse of all stations is at least one stall or stand where people can buy food or drinks. Stalls vary by station, and some have fast food stalls. The number of stalls also varies by station, and stations tend to have a wide variety, especially in stations such as Recto and V.Mapa. Stations such as Araneta Center-Cubao and V. Mapa are connected to or are near shopping malls, hotels and/or other large shopping areas, where commuters are offered more services they need.

Safety The LRT-2 has always presented itself as a safe system to travel in. So far, this has been affirmed by the LRTA, the government owned and controlled corporation running LRT1 and LRT-2, has since been able to live up to that reputation. Safety notices in both English and Tagalog are also a common sight at LRT-2 stations and inside LRT-2 trains.

Incidents and accidents Date Location Results Two robbers dressed as janitors ran off with PHP 700,000 in station earnings from Recto station, killing one policeman, Arcadio Borja from the Lockheed Security Agency, in the process. The robbers were wearing the uniforms of Excellent General Services, the agency which provides janitorial services on the entire Purple Line.[1] It is presumed that the robbers entered the station through the fire exit, the hallway lights of which were turned off to make them invisible to security cameras. Four janitors, eight security guards and cashier Leo Inocentes, from which the money was robbed from, were subjected to a polygraph test after testing negative for gunshot residue. A man, later identified as Zaldy Morato Muna, was arrested after guards conducting a routine bag search discovered bomb-making materials inside Muna's bag, with the suspect claiming that the materials were for a fishpond project in Antipolo City and that he believed that he had given the materials to a friend of his. While the suspect has been relieved of any allegations of being a member of a terrorist group, charges of illegal possession of explosives will still be levied against him, according to police

January Recto 10, 2005

January Santolan 30, 2006

At about 6:15am PST, LRT-2 operations were halted for about three hours due to a power glitch that occurred between the two stations. LRTA engineers June 22, Santolan to discovered a piece of tin that broke one of the catenary wires, causing delays for 2006 Katipunan passengers who had to be transferred via coach to Anonas station, the closest open station of the network for passengers boarding from Santolan and Katipunan. Full line operations resumed by 9:30 am after the wire was repaired. Hundreds of passengers were stranded after lightning caused by Tropical Storm July 12, Santolan to Bilis (Florita) struck one of the overhead wires, causing the line to break and 2006 Katipunan forcing operations from Santolan to Katipunan to stall. Operations from Recto to Anonas continued as normal while linemen were repairing the damaged wire. May 20, Recto 2008 Araneta July 14, Center2008 Cubao Train operations from Recto to Araneta Center-Cubao were suspended due to lightning that struck the station's power supply. A hard and sudden downpour of rain disrupted operations of the LRT-2 and caused a power transformer to explode and trigger a brownout in some parts of Quezon City. Trains loaded with passengers stopped at the Araneta CenterCubao, while LRT-2's workers tried to activate their emergency generator to immediately resume operations.

January 4, 2011

V. Mapa

Operations of the LRT-2 were temporarily halted due to obstructions along the tracks in the Sta. Mesa district in Manila during rush hour early Tuesday. The object was reported past 7 a.m. PST, forcing them to stop operations until the tracks were cleared. A glitch interrupted the operations of the LRT-2, this time involving a defective door on one of its coaches. The technical problem occurred at 6:47 a.m. PST, involving a train bound for the Recto Station when a train at the Katipunan Station had the said glitch. The operations resumed at 6:55 a.m. PST, and insisted LRT-2 technicians quickly fixed the problem. The operation of Purple line was delayed when a man was suddenly jump on the railroad tracks during an incoming train on Saturday morning.

March Katipunan 24, 2011 June 11, Araneta 2011 Center Rules

Passengers at LRT-2 stations are advised to not stay too close to the edge of the platforms to avoid falling onto the tracks. Passengers are prohibited from eating, drinking or smoking inside the platform area of all LRT-2 stations and inside the trains. Bags are also inspected for prohibited goods, such as chemicals and knives. Passengers are also inspected by guards using a handheld metal detector. For safety and security reasons, persons who are visibly intoxicated, insane and/or under the influence of controlled substances, persons carrying flammable materials and/or explosives, persons carrying bulky objects or items over 1.5 metres (5 ft) tall and/or wide, and persons bringing pets and/or other animals are prohibited from entering the LRT-2. Passengers are also prohibited from entering the LRT-2 if bringing products in tin cans, citing the possibility of home-made bombs being concealed inside the cans. Security In response to the Rizal Day bombings and the September 11th attacks, security has been stepped up onboard the LRT-2. The Philippine National Police has a special LRT-2 police force, and security police provided by the LRTA management can be found in all LRT-2 stations. All LRT-2 stations have a head guard. Some stations may also have a deployed K9 bomb-sniffing dog. The LRT-2 also employs the use of closed-circuit television inside all stations to monitor suspicious activities and to assure safety and security aboard the line. Passengers are also advised to look out for thieves, who can take advantage of the crowding aboard LRT-2 trains. Wanted posters are posted at all LRT-2 stations to help commuters identify known thieves. Fares and ticketing The LRT-2, like the LRT-1 and MRT-3, uses a distance-based fare structure, with fares ranging from twelve to fifteen pesos (28 to 35 U.S. cents), depending on the destination.

Fare structure The LRT-2 only uses one fare structure for both single-journey and stored-value ticket holders. Commuters who ride the LRT-2 are charged 12 pesos for the first three stations, 13 pesos for 46 stations, 14 pesos for 7-9 stations, and 15 pesos for 10 stations or the entire line. Children below 1.02 metres (3 ft 4.4 in) (the height of a fare gate) may ride for free on the LRT-2. Types of tickets Four types of LRT-2 tickets exist: a single-journey (one-way) ticket whose cost is dependent on the destination, a stored-value (multiple-use) ticket for 100 pesos, a discounted stored value ticket (multiple-use) which can only be availed by senior citizens and disabled persons for 96 pesos, and a single journey ticket for employees (one-way) which is exclusive for LRTA employees only. The single-journey ticket and the single journey ticket for employees is valid only on the date of purchase. Meanwhile, the stored-value ticket and the discounted stored-value ticket is valid for six months from date of purchase when unused and for one month from date it was first used. LRT-2 tickets come in two incarnations: one bearing the portrait of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which have since been phased out, although some tickets have been recycled due to ticket shortages, and one with the LRT-MRT closing the loop project design with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo again in the picture. In the past, the MRT-3 borrowed tickets from LRT-2 and LRT-1 rather than recycling the old "Erap tickets", due to the same ticket shortages. Unlike MRT-3, LRT-2 now has sufficient number of tickets with the arrival of the new tickets and the unified ticketing system between LRT-1 and LRT-2 among stored value users which result to a shorter line in booths compared to its MRT-3 counterparts. Rolling stock The LRT-2 runs on heavy rail vehicles made in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem in a four-car configuration. The trains came in together with the fourth package during the system's construction. Trains have a capacity of 1,628 passengers, which is more than the normal capacity of LRT-1 and MRT-3 rolling stocks. LRT-2 trains, like their MRT-3 and second generation LRT-1 counterparts, are particularly known for their use of wrap advertising. A wide variety of advertisements can be seen on LRT-2 trains, of which some include Nike, Converse and Samsung products. Trains bearing wrap advertising are now very common aboard the LRT-2, although trains that use LRT-2's house colors are also in service in the network. The revenues generated from the advertising on LRT-2 trains are used to pay off debts incurred by the LRTA during the system's construction and maintain the rolling stocks and stations of the line. Depot

The LRT-2 maintains an at-grade depot in Marikina City, near Santolan station. It serves as the headquarters for light and heavy maintenance of the LRT-2, as well as the operations of the system in general which includes the operation of the driverless trains. It is connected to the main LRT-2 network by a spur line. FUTURE PLANS Purple Line Eastern Extension A 4-kilometer eastern extension of the Purple Line to Masinag in Antipolo, Rizal, was proposed. 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.

Purple Line Western Extension An 8-kilometer western extension of the Purple Line to Tondo, Manila was proposed. It was approved in principle by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), but the actual proposal is pending before the NEDA secretariat. The construction of this said extension will create one station which will serve people in the Tutuban /Divisoria area.

Manila LRT Yellow Line

Metrorail Overview Type System Status Rapid transit Manila Light Rail Transit System Operational Roosevelt Avenue, Quezon City (Temporary) Termini North Avenue, Quezon City (Future) Baclaran, Pasay City 22 1 Operation Opened Owner Operator(s) Rolling stock December 11, 1984 Light Rail Transit Authority Light Rail Transit Authority BN ACEC 1st Generation LRV Hyundai Precision and Adtranz 2nd Generation LRV Kinki Sharyo and Nippon Sharyo 3rd Generation LRV Technical Line length Track gauge Electrification 20.7 km (12.86 miles) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) Standard gauge Overhead line

Stations Services

Daily ridership 442,000 (2008)

The Manila LRT Yellow Line is the first metro line of the Manila Light Rail Transit System. Presently, the line contains twenty-two stations and runs over twenty point seven kilometers of fully elevated track. As the name implies, the line is colored yellow on all LRT maps. The line runs in a general north-south direction from Baclaran to Monumento; then, it runs in an east-west direction from Monumento to North Avenue, linking the cities of Quezon City, Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, and Paranaque. Passengers can transfer to the Purple Line at Doroteo Jose station, while passengers can transfer to the Blue Line at EDSA and North Avenue stations.

History

December 1, 1984: Baclaran to Central Terminal May 12, 1985: Central Terminal to Monumento March 22, 2010: Monumento to Balintawak October 22, 2010: Balintawak to Roosevelt

Main Line of Yellow Line The Yellow Line is predominantly aligned to the path of Taft Avenue (Radial Road 2), which was chosen largely due to its straight length. Later on, as Taft Avenue ends, it shifts to Rizal Avenue and Rizal Avenue Extension (Radial Road 9) then turning right at EDSA or Circumferencial Road 4 (C-4 Road) before ending at the corner of North and West Avenues and EDSA. The trip continues as it traverses the Blue Line until it reaches again Pasay City near Taft Avenue. South Extension In the future it will take Quirino Avenue (Road from Paranaque to Bacoor) then at the side of Seaside Drive then to the Coastal Road then it will take the side of the street of Kabihasnan to Quirino Avenue (again) to its extension, General Emilio Aguinaldo Avenue from Las Pinas-Bacoor Boundary of Zapote Bridge to Niog. Stations

North Avenue - Quezon City (interchange with Blue Line at North Avenue) Roosevelt - Quezon City Balintawak - Quezon City Malvar - Caloocan City Monumento - Caloocan City 5th Avenue - Caloocan City R. Papa - Tondo, Manila Abad Santos - Tondo and Santa Cruz, Manila Blumentritt - Santa Cruz, Manila (interchange with Orange Line at Blumentritt) Tayuman - Santa Cruz, Manila Bambang - Santa Cruz, Manila Doroteo Jose - Santa Cruz, Manila (interchange with Purple Line at Recto) Carriedo - Quiapo and Santa Cruz, Manila Central Terminal - Ermita, Manila (also known as Arroceros) United Nations - Ermita, Manila Pedro Gil - Ermita, Manila Quirino Avenue - Malate, Manila Vito Cruz - Malate, Manila Gil Puyat - Pasay City Libertad - Pasay City EDSA - Pasay City (interchange with Blue Line at Taft Avenue) Baclaran - Pasay City

FUTURE PLANS Yellow Line Southern Extension A southern extension of the Yellow Line, also known as the Cavite Extension Project, is proposed, although President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo already left the project. The extension has 10 stations over some 11.7 kilometres and will be the second line extending outside the Metro Manila area (after MRT-7) with the line ending in Bacoor in Cavite. An unsolicted 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 openmarket invitation to tender for the extension and a 30-year concession to run the extended LRT-1 line. The following stations compose the Southern Extension:

Redemptorist - Paranaque City Manila International Airport - Paranaque City Asia World - Paranaque City Ninoy Aquino - Paranaque City Dr. Santos - Paranaque City Manuyo Uno - Las Pinas City Las Pias - Las Pinas City Zapote - Bacoor, Cavite Talaba - Bacoor, Cavite Niog - Bacoor, Cavite

The line would be extended from Paraaque City southwards, connecting Las Pias City and the municipality of Bacoor in Cavite to the LRT network. Incidents and accidents Date Station Event

December 2000

On Rizal Day, a Yellow Line car exploded near Blumentritt station as part of a series of explosions in a terrorist attack known as the Rizal Day bombings. The attack on the LRT killed some 22 people and injured hundreds. Eight members of both Jemaah Islamiyah and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front 30, (MILF), which include Hambali, Asia's most wanted man, and the late Fathur Blumentritt Rahman al-Ghozi, were charged with plotting and masterminding the attacks in 2003, some three years after the attacks. Three suspects were put on trial,with al-Ghozi receiving 17 years in prison due to the illegal possession of explosives. However, al-Ghozi would die in a firefight after attempting to escape from prison. Doroteo Jose Lea Aquino Ababa of Pasay City gave birth to a baby girl inside Doroteo Jose station on her way to Fabella Memorial Hospital for a checkup, the first time

May 5, 2005

a baby was born and the first time an LRT passenger gave birth inside an LRT station. She was named Dorotea, after the name of the station. A fisherman, later identified as Rolly Buenafe of San Pedro, Laguna, jumped off a moving LRT train headed northbound and landed on the tracks. After that incident, he was then subsequently hit by a southbound LRT train, with the man being dragged under the train until the train stopped at Vito Cruz station at about 3:00 pm. LRTA employees then took him to Philippine General Hospital, where he suffered from massive head injuries and eventually died at 8:00 pm. Police say it was an apparent suicide after his wife left him for another man. In a report by the Philippine Star on August 18, 2005, another man, later identified as Angel Moran, was either pushed off or jumped off a moving LRT train, landing on the tracks. He was then hit by another LRT train. LRTA officials called a code yellow alert and brought the man to the Ospital ng Maynila. As of press time, the man was in critical condition. Thousands of passengers were stranded after faulty brakes on one southbound LRT train forced operations from Monumento to Baclaran to be suspended. In order to stop the train, power had to be cut to the entire line and as such the train had to be pulled to Baclaran to be inspected and repaired. Train operations resumed after a few hours. Train operation from Monumento to Baclaran were temporarily shut down around 6:30 p.m because of a man who committed suicide by jumping down from the 26th floor of a nearby condominium and subsequently getting crushed by a southbound train. Train operations resumed after 7:25 p.m.

May 24, 2005

Vito Cruz

August 17, 2005 Vito Cruz

September 2006

9,

Pedro Gil

April 3, 2007

Vito Cruz

A lone gunman mounted on a motorcycle reportedly shot security guard Rod Navarro of the Kaizen Security Agency at around 1:00 pm on the head, August 26, 2007 Blumentritt killing the guard on the spot. A motive has yet to be established for the killing of Navarro. Train operations from Central Terminal to Baclaran were temporarily suspended after a fire in a residential area in Pasay City forced the suspension of operations due to the proximity of one of the burning buildings to Libertad station. Operations from Central Terminal to Monumento still operated as scheduled. Full service was restored after the fire was controlled. Train operations to and from Baclaran were suspended because of a fire at the Baclaran Galleria shopping mall that started at around 5:00 am. Until noontime the fire was still spreading to nearby establishments, and flames even started to encroach entrance of the station. Earlier the station had to be closed because of the thick smoke coming from the fire. Train operations were limited from Monumento to Gil Puyat when fire broke out in a 4-story Puregold commercial building beside Libertad station at around 2:00 am. Normal operations resumed in the afternoon after the fire was controlled.

December 2007

18,

Libertad

January 3, 2008 Baclaran

July 17, 2008

Libertad

March 26, 2009 Tayuman

A 41- year old woman tried to commit suicide by jumping onto the rails as a train bound for Baclaran approcahed. Luckily though, she did not die, as she landed on the direction of the rail and not across it, therefore she was only passed upon by the incoming train. She only suffered minor injuries. No charged were made against her. At around 7:30 am, train operations from Baclaran to Central were disrupted after steel debris from a nearby construction area fell on the tracks and catenary wires. Operations resumed at 9:45 am.

May 28, 2009

Pedro Gil

June 24, 2010

The a driver of a third generation four-car LRT train overshot the designated Balintawak area in the Balintawak Station at around 1:26 pm PST, resulting in the denting of a stationary train. Geraldine Mahinay of Paraaque City gave birth to a baby boy inside a coach on Pedro Gil Station.Geraldine together with her brother-in-law was supposed to rush her to the Dr. Jose Favella Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz district when the incident happened. After giving birth, both the mother and the child were rushed to the Philippine General Hospital Line 1 operations from Balintawak to Roosevelt station were temporarily suspended after a train sideswiped another (a 1G Train and a 3g Train) on Friday morning. A train from Roosevelt station was at the reversing track when it hit along the side another train from the opposite track. All the trains on tracks in Line 1 were immediately put on hold position at 10:02 am, forcing them to stop but shortly, resume operations from Monumento to Baclaran only. A train was headed to Baclaran when smoke emanated as it approached the United Nations Station. Some of the passengers reportedly panicked and one even broke the trains windows in an attempt to escape the troubled train. Only two passengers were injured after being hit by shards of broken glass which was broken by one passenger of the train. Both passengers only had minor injuries. The operations were distrupted again for the second day after the doors on a northbound train at the Carriedo station failed to close. The malfunction occurred at around 9:20 a.m. PST The doors failed to close despite the train operators efforts to close them before moving towards the next station. Since the trains are interconnected, all trains at service on the line at that time came to a standstill while some of the technical personnel of the line addressed the problem. Normal line operations resumed at 9:45 a.m. PST. For the third straight day the operations were distrupted again when a train in the Carriedo Station suddenly stopped which resulted for the passengers to disembark the troubled train. Line 1 operations were delayed for 8 minutes because of the said incident. Another glitch hit another train late night at the same station where a train stopped early morning that day and a train was unable to move due to door malfuntion the day before. The glitch was caused by the safety protocol for the train's door activated and prevented the train from leaving the station.

October 2010

30,

Pedro Gil

February 2011

18,

Roosevelt

March 28, 2011

United Nations

March 29, 2011 Carriedo

March 30, 2011 Carriedo

March 30, 2011 Carriedo

It was theorized that it is possible that some passengers may have leaned on the doors and triggered the activation of the safety protocol of the train An incident happened at around 9:45 a.m. PST at the Vito Cruz station after one passenger accidentally pressed the alarm button amid the pushing and shoving from a mob of commuters aboard the train. The train was crowded due to militant transport groups caravan to protest the fuel price hike which resulted in lesser jeepneys which is also a major mode of transportation in the country. All southbound trains were stranded and unavailable for almost 15 minutes. The incident was the fifth in a row in the last four days of several incidents and accidents in the line. A fire broke out on a residential area near Vito Cruz station at morning, causing LRT services to be terminated for a while. At 7:53 a.m. PST, LRT operations resumed, but from Roosevelt to Central Terminal and vice versa only. Normal operations resumed at 8:40 a.m. PST.

March 31, 2011 Vito Cruz

July 15, 2011

Vito Cruz