LRT-MRT Common Station interim operations eyed by Q1 2028

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting to start the interim operation of the Unified Grand Central Station or Common Station in the first quarter of 2028.

"The ED (Economy and Development) Council just approved it. What happened here was that we terminated the contract. And when we terminated that, we spoke with LRMC (Light Rail Manila Corporation) to see if they could continue the project by way of a variation order. Since it's a variation order, we have to follow the government process," Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in a statement.

"Just recently, the ED Council approved the project itself. So, we can start that now because we are aiming for at least partial operations by May of—I mean, the first quarter of 2028," he added.

Early this month, the ED Council announced that the “variation order” for the Common Station project was approved, paving the way for the construction of the stalled Unified Grand Central Station, connecting LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7 lines to proceed.

The variation order followed the termination of the existing Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) approval for the project, which will link LRT-1 with MRT-3 and MRT-7 and later with the Metro Manila Subway, in March.

The DOTr had terminated the agreement with BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Company (BFC-FDSC) Consortium, which was tapped to build the common station, due to excessive delays.

The Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) earlier said the variation also covers station completion works, viaduct works, railway systems, signaling, and the integration of the Automatic Fare Collection System.

The works for the interim operations of the common station are expected to be finished by March 2028, according to DEPDev.

With this, Lopez said the Transportation Department will strive to meet the target for the Common Station’s interim operations in the first quarter of 2028.

The Secretary added that the DOTr has also taken steps to ensure commuters will not have a hard time transferring between trains while full construction of the Common Station is ongoing.

He said that the DOTr has spoken with the management of Trinoma, who promised to provide an access way leading to MRT-3 so commuters will have shelter and avoid having to walk under the sun or rain.

"Since it won't be completed until the first quarter of 2028 because we're fixing the signaling—rail transit needs signaling—what we will do now is ensure that once the North Avenue station of MRT-7 is finished and functional, our commuters can use the concourse and platform. We've also talked to Trinoma, and they will provide an access road or access way going to our MRT-3. That way, commuters won't have to walk below on the street level," Lopez said.—LDF, GMA News