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Originally Posted by colemonkee
What's the public transportation system like in Manila? Are there rail lines between the nodes of highrises?
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The state of public transport systems in Manila metro area is generally bad, because of corruption, inadequate maintenance, overcapacity etc. People use all means of transport to get somewhere: private cars, carpools, rideshares, ferry, tuk tuks, motorbikes, trains etc
Taking trains in Metro Manila requires a lot of patience, although not entirely impossible. There are lots of security in these train stations, and everyone has to go through x-ray machines or pat downs like you'd have in an airport. Tickets are issued by e-cards and can be bought through machines or at the booth, but choosing either way will most likely require you to go through a line anyway. Trains are almost always packed. However, there are numerous efforts to extend and add more train lines.
There are currently three lines (LRT1, MRT2/Purple Line, and MRT3) plus commuter rail (PNR). Of the three, I think MRT3 is the most important and heavily used, but only by a thin margin.
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LRT1 runs mostly through the old city from north to south, currently being extended
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LRT2/Purple Line runs between Manila and the eastern suburbs, passing though numerous universities of the metro
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MRT3 runs mostly along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (most congested stretch in the metro) connects Makati CBD and Ortigas Center CBD
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PNR runs between Manila and the southern suburb of Alabang, currently being extended both north and south
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MRT 7 is currently under construction
***If you're wondering about the strange numbering system, I have no idea! haha
The metro's first below-grade subway is currently under construction. The city of Makati is also building its own subway line, and there is a monorail that will connect Makati (via MRT3's Guadalupe Station) and Bonifacio CBD