Manila Light Rail Transit System — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

Manila Light Rail Transit System Information

It’s called the Manila Light Rail Transit, which indicates that it’s a light rail system. However, the metro system is more like a rapid transit system than a light rail system. Running on just 2 lines and serving a total of 31 stations, the 33.4km network serves the people of Manila, Philippines. A very accessible mode of public transport, mainly because of its speed and affordability, the Metro has a daily ridership of around 1.3 million. The 2 lines in operation opened on different days and are under different operators. Line 1, informally known as the LRT, started operating in 1984, while Line 2 started operating relatively recently in 2003. The Light Rail Transit Authority is both the owner and operator of Line 2, while the Light Rail Manila Corporation is responsible for the operation of Line 1.

The Manila Metro, also known as the MRT, is a vital part of the city’s public transport system, carrying 948,000 passengers daily. It doesn’t offer 24-hour service and operates from 4:30am to 8:30pm (M-D).

The MRT offers air conditioning for passenger comfort and allows passengers to walk between platforms. However, it doesn’t have driverless trains or screen doors on the platforms.

The MRT operates at an average speed of 60 km/h and charges a fare of 10 pesos per trip. The system is efficiently managed by the Metro Rail Transit Corporation of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Manila Light Rail Transit System Map

Map of Manila Light Rail Transit System showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Manila Light Rail Transit System map in PDF format.

Metro Details: Line and Stations

The metro system consists of a single line, called MRT Line 3, with 13 stations, as follows:

North Avenue: An elevated station located near Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City. It serves as one of the metro’s terminals and has a nearby warehouse for the metro’s railcars. The station is located near several shopping malls such as SM City North EDSA and TriNoma, and connects to places such as Sogo Hotel North EDSA, Philippine Medical Association, Philam Soccer Field, Triangle Park, Quezon Memorial Circle, and Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center. It leads to Quezon Avenue Station.
Kamuning: This station is located in the Scout Area of Diliman, near Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City. It is also known as GMA Kamuning. Transportation options around the station include bicycle taxis, taxis, buses and jeepneys. Major establishments near the station include the Public-Private Partnership Center, GMA Network, National Statistics Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, Quezon City Hall, and the Philippine Heart Center. The nearest station is Araneta Center – Cubao.
Quezon Avenue: Located on Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, in Diliman, public transport services such as jeepneys, buses and taxis are available. Nearby shopping mall is Centris Walk. Important places around this station include the PAGASA Complex, ABS-CBN, Court of Tax Appeals, Office of the Ombudsman, Lung Center of the Philippines and Centris Station. The station leads to Kamuning.
Santolan – Annapolis: Located near Santolan Road and Annapolis Street, between San Juan City and Quezon City. The station is also known as Santolan Station and connects to Ortigas. Nearby attractions include Greenhills Shopping Center, Philippine National Police Headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo, Barangay Wack Wack Greenhills East and V.V. Soliven Building. Bicycle taxis are available near this station.
Araneta Centre – Cubao: Located in Cubao, Quezon City, near Araneta Center and alternatively known as Cubao Station. This station is also a stop for the LRT Line 2 trains. Nearby malls include Ali Mall, Farmers Plaza and Gateway Mall. A popular destination near this station is the Smart Araneta Coliseum, a venue for concerts and sporting events. The station connects to Santolan – Annapolis.
Shaw Boulevard: Located above Shaw Boulevard in Ortigas Center. This is the only station that has both a branch line and a reserve line. It serves as a terminal for jeepneys, including air-conditioned ones. Nearby malls include Pavilion Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, Starmall and SM Megamall. Nearby places of interest include the CNN Philippines Headquarters, Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, PhilSports Arena, and Ynares Sports Arena, among others. The train station leads to Boni.
Ortigas: Located at Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong near Ortigas Avenue. It connects to Shaw Boulevard station. Nearby transport hubs include SM Megamall and Robinson’s Galleria. Nearby malls include St. Francis Square Mall, The Podium, SM Megamall and Robinson’s Galleria. Places of interest include Meralco, Philippine Stock Exchange, UnionBank, Asian Development Bank Headquarters, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Transportation, La Salle Green Hills, Saint Pedro Poveda College, Oakwood Premier, Crowne Plaza, Meralco Theatre, EDSA Shrine and The Medical City, among others.
Guadalupe: Located in Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati, near the Pasig River. The nearest mall is Guadalupe Shopping Center. Auto rickshaws are available near the train station. Nearby theological colleges include Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary and San Carlos Seminary. Other places of interest include the University of Makati, Makati City Hall, Hotel Sogo, Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church and Guadalupe Nuevo Cloverleaf Park. The nearest train station is Buendia Station.
Boni: Located between Pioneer Street and Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong. Also known as Boni Avenue Station, it has nearby markets, restaurants and a terminal for bicycle taxis and jeepneys. It is often used by students due to its proximity to the Rizal Technological University. Notably, this station uses an island platform, unlike most stations which use side platforms. Other places of interest include Go Hotel, Forum Robinsons, Robinsons Cybergate, TV5 Media Center, SM Light Residences, Victor Potenciano Medical Center, Paragon Plaza Building and GA Twin Towers. It leads to Guadalupe Station.
Ayala: Located in San Lorenzo, Makati, near Ayala Avenue and Ayala Center, this is one of the two underground stations of the Metro. It is next in line to Magallanes and is known for its large number of lifts, escalators and stairs. There’s a mall inside the station, with restaurants and shops just outside. Nearby malls include Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Rustan’s, SM Makati, Glorietta and The Landmark. The station has a reserve track and is close to banks such as China Bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Standard Chartered Bank Philippines, Citibank Philippines, RCBC and HSBC Philippines. Nearby hotels include Ascott Makati, InterContinental Hotel, Peninsula Manila, New World Hotel, Dusit Hotel and Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Educational institutions such as the Asian Institute of Management, the Ayala Museum and the Filipinos Heritage Library are close by. Other attractions include the Dasmariñas villages, Forbes Park, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Bonifacio Global City and the Philippine Stock Exchange.
Buendia: Located on Gil Puyat Avenue in Urdaneta, Makati, this station, also known as Gil Puyat Station, is one of the few underground stations in the Metro. It has an island platform and two shunting tracks. It leads to Ayala station. Jeepneys to Pasay City are available nearby. Hotels such as the Frasier Place and the Mandarin Oriental are close by, while entertainment venues can be found on Jupiter Street and Makati Avenue. The area is home to many banks, including Banco de Oro, Metropolitan Bank Trust Company, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation and the Development Bank of the Philippines. Other nearby offices include the Department of Energy, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Magallanes: Located on Chico Roces Avenue in Magallanes, Makati, the station serves Philippine National Railways trains and has a siding. The station is named after Ferdinand Magellan, the explorer who first discovered the Philippines. It’s close to the South Luzon Expressway and shopping malls such as Magallanes Center, Makati Cinema Square and Alphaland Southgate Mall. Nearby educational institutions include Colegio San Agustin – Makati, Asia Pacific College, Don Bosco Technical College, Assumption College and Makati Hope Christian School. Major companies include the headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline and Levi’s. Buses to the South Luzon Expressway and jeepneys to Pasay and Makati Central Business District are available. The nearest train station is Taft Avenue.
Taft Avenue: Taft Avenue Station serves as a transfer hub for passengers traveling on LRT Line 1 from EDSA Station to Baclaran or Fernando Poe Jr. through the intersection and Metropoint Shopping Centre. A shuttle bus connects the station to Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

MRT-3 Connections

The metro provides connections to buses, Light Rail Transit System (LRT) trains and ferries. The connections available at each station are as follows:

North Avenue: Buses from North Terminal.
Ortigas: Buses from Philtranco Clark Airport.
Araneta Center-Cubao: Buses and LRT 2 trains.
Ayala: Buses from Bonifacio Transport Corp.
Guadalupe: Ferries operated by Pasig River Ferry Service.
Taft Avenue: Buses from Philtranco Clark Airport, buses from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and LRT 1 trains.
Magallanes: LRT trains on the South Main Line.

Airport Connection

The nearest subway station to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the Taft Avenue station. To reach this station from the airport, first walk to the Roxas – NAIA Bus Terminal Northbound. Then take the EDSA bus to Coastal Mall – Navotas Terminal and travel for about 18 minutes towards Navotas. After four stops, alight at EDSA Taft Avenue Bus Terminal. Finally, walk about 290 metres to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Pasay, 1300.

Schedules, Timetables, and Calendar

Monday through Friday:

1) Departure Frequencies:
- 1.1) 4:30 am to 6:30 am: Every five minutes.
- 1.2) 6:30 am to 9:30 am: Every four minutes.
- 1.3) 9:30 am to 4:30 pm: Every six minutes.
- 1.4) 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm: Every four minutes.
- 1.5) 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm: Every five minutes.
2) Opening and Closing Times: Opens at North Avenue station at 4:37 am and closes at Taft Avenue station at 10:40 pm.

Saturdays and Sundays:

1) Departure Frequencies:
- 1.1) Saturdays: Every six minutes.
- 1.2) Sundays: Every eight minutes.
2) Opening and Closing Times:
- 2.1) Saturdays: Opens at North Avenue station at 4:38 am, and closes at Taft Avenue at 10:40 pm.
- 2.2) Sundays: Opens at North Avenue station at 4:50 am, and closes at Taft Avenue at 10:40 pm.

Holidays:

1) Departure Frequencies: Every eight minutes.
2) Opening and Closing Times: Opens at North Avenue station at 4:50 am, and closes at Taft Avenue station at 10:40 pm.

Ticket Pricing and Types

Prices are quoted in Philippine Pesos (P for short). From now on, 1 US dollar is equivalent to 49.82 P.

There are four types of tickets: Single Journey Ticket (ranging from P13 to P28), Single Journey Discount (same range with a 20% discount for persons with disabilities and senior citizens), Stored Value Ticket (P100) and Stored Value Ticket Discount (P100 with a 20% discount for persons with disabilities and senior citizens).

MRT-3 Travel Tips

Stored Value Tickets are not valid on LRT 1 or 2 trains. If you plan to transfer from the Metro to LRT 1 or 2, purchase an SRTS Flash Pass, which is valid for unlimited travel on LRT 1, 2 and the Metro for one week. This pass is only sold at selected ticket offices.
It’s advisable to wear light clothing due to the heat inside the Metro.
Try to avoid peak times due to overcrowding. Peak hours are from 6.30am to 9.30am and from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
Buy Stored Value Tickets to avoid queuing every time you need to buy a ticket. These tickets are valid for 90 days.
To avoid crowds, consider boarding at less crowded stations such as Santolan – Annapolis, Kamuning, Magallanes and Ortigas. Taft Avenue, Araneta Center – Cubao, Shaw Boulevard and Quezon Avenue tend to be more crowded.
Keep your belongings in front of you on the subway.
It’s likely that you’ll have to stand during your metro journey. Make sure you keep your balance, even if there aren’t any handrails.
If you’re a woman, sit in one of the two front carriages. Otherwise you’ll have to move to one of the other carriages.
Avoid pushing other passengers and move to the centre of the metro to allow others to board.
Consider listening to music or other forms of distraction to make crowded journeys more comfortable.