LRT Line 2 (Metro Manila)

Metro Manila Rapid Rail System map as of July 2015

A train approaching Katipunan station

A train heading towards Araneta Center-Cubao Station.

The line serves 11 stations on 13.8 kilometers (8.6 mi) of line.[1] The rails are mostly elevated and erected either over or along the roads covered, with sections below ground before and after the Katipunan station, the only underground station on the line. The western terminus of the line is the Recto station at Recto Avenue, while the eastern terminus of the line is the Santolan station along Marcos Highway.

The rail line serves the cities that Radial Road 6 (Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda Street and Recto Avenue) passes through: Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina City and Pasig City (depot).

Three stations serve as interchanges between the lines operated by the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC), and Philippine National Railways (PNR). Pureza station is indirectly connected to the PNR Santa Mesa station; Araneta Center-Cubao indirectly connects with the MRT Line 3 station of the same name through local streets inside Araneta City (or formerly, Araneta Center); and Recto station is indirectly connected to the LRT Line 1 Doroteo Jose station through a covered walkway.

Starting in October 2019, three stations from Santolan to Anonas segment were temporarily closed due to a fire that affected two rectifier substations of the aforementioned section, leaving only 8 stations on the Araneta Center–Cubao to Recto segment and 5 train sets in operation. The estimated time of repair and reopening of the stations will last from 6 to 9 months.[3] The repairs for the affected sections of the train line were delayed many times amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the procurement of the necessary equipment, and due to the limited workforce in repairs after following strict safety restrictions. In September 2020, the LRTA Board has approved a Notice to Proceed for the reparations project in the affected areas, and the segment was reopened on January 22, 2021.[4]

Name	Distance (km)		Rail/Bus Transfers	Location
	Between stations	From Santolan
Masinag	—	—	Bus 9	Antipolo City, Rizal
Emerald	—	—	Bus 9	Marikina City
Santolan	—	0.000	BFCT East Metro Manila Transport Terminal, Bus 9	Marikina City / Pasig City (depot)
Katipunan	1.970	1.970	Bus 8, 9	Quezon City
Anonas	0.955	2.925	MMS  Metro Manila Subway, Bus 8, 9
Araneta Center–Cubao	1.438	4.363	3 MRT Line 3, EDSA Busway, Bus 8, 9, 10
Betty Go-Belmonte	1.164	5.527	Bus 10
Gilmore	1.075	6.602	Bus 10, 11
J. Ruiz	0.928	7.530	Bus 10	San Juan City
V. Mapa	1.234	8.764	Bus 10	Manila
Pureza	1.357	10.121	Metro Commuter Line via Santa Mesa, Bus 10
Legarda	1.389	11.510	Bus 10
Recto	1.050	12.560	LRT Line 1 via Doroteo Jose, Bus 10
Tutuban	—	—	Metro Commuter Line  NSCR  North–South Commuter Railway
Divisoria	—	—	none
Pier 4	—	—	North Port Passenger Terminal, Bus 2
Stations and train systems in italics are under construction.

The line runs from 5:00 a.m. PST (UTC+8) until 10:00 p.m on weekdays, and 5:00 a.m. PST (UTC+8) until 9:30 pm during weekends and holidays. It operates almost every day of the year unless otherwise announced. Special schedules are announced via the PA system at every station and also in newspapers and other mass media. During Holy Week, a public holiday in the Philippines, the rail system is closed for annual maintenance, owing to fewer commuters and traffic around the metro. Normal operation resumes on Monday.[5]

A eastbound train on the viaduct near Marikina River towards Santolan station

J. Ruiz station platform area

A westbound LRTA Class 2000 heading towards Nagtahan Interchange.

During the construction of the first line of the Manila Light Rail Transit System in the early 1980s, Electrowatt Engineering Services of Zürich designed a comprehensive plan for metro service in Metro Manila. The plan—still used as the basis for planning new metro lines—consisted of a 150-kilometer (93 mi) network of rapid transit lines spanning all major corridors within 20 years, including a line on the Radial Road 6 alignment, one of the region's busiest road corridor.

The Line 2 project officially began in 1996, twelve years after the opening of Line 1, with the granting of the soft loans for the line's construction. However, construction barely commenced, with the project stalled as the Philippine government conducted several investigations into alleged irregularities with the project's contract. The consortium of local and foreign companies, led by Marubeni Corporation, formed the Asia-Europe MRT Consortium (AEMC) which won the contract and restarted the project in 2000 after getting cleared from the allegations.

The AEMC was subsequently given the approval to commence construction by the DOTC and LRTA. The LRTA would have ownership of the system and assume all administrative functions, such as the regulation of fares and operations as well as the responsibility over construction and maintenance of the system and the procurement of spare parts for trains.

Construction started in March 1996 after the LRTA signed the first three packages of the agreement with Sumitomo Corporation delivering Package 1 in which covers the construction of the depot and its facilities, while the Hanjin-Itochu Joint Venture delivered packages 2 and 3 in which covers the substructure and the superstructure plus the stations respectively. The final package which was the package 4 agreement was signed after several delays with Asia-Europe MRT Consortium which was composed of Marubeni Corporation, Balfour Beatty, Toshiba, Daewoo Heavy Industries, and a local company which was D.M. Consuji Incorporated (DMCI) in which includes the communications and fares systems, vehicles, and trackworks.

During construction, the LRTA oversaw all the design, construction, equipping, testing, commissioning, and technical supervision of the project activities.

On April 5, 2003, the initial section, from Santolan to Araneta Center-Cubao was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with all remaining stations opening on April 5, 2004 except for Recto which opened on October 29, 2004. However, ridership was initially moderate yet still far below expectations, since the passenger volume in this line is not yet fully achieved.

To address passenger complaints on earlier train lines, the LRTA made sure during the construction phase that the stations are PWD (Person(s) with disability) friendly by putting up escalators and elevators for easier access, as well as making passenger fares at par with the other existing lines.

Santolan station, the only station on the line with an island platform.

The entrance to Santolan station as seen from the Marcos Highway

Bridge linking the Recto station to the nearby Line 1 Doroteo Jose station

With the exception of Katipunan station, all stations are above ground.

The line has always presented itself as a safe system to travel in, which was affirmed in a 2004 World Bank paper prepared by Halcrow describing the overall state of metro rail transit operations in Manila as being "good".[6]

With an estimated daily ridership of 200,000 passengers, the line operates significantly below its designed capacity of between 570,000 and 580,000 passengers per day. Operating under capacity since 2004,[7] government officials have admitted that system extensions are overdue, although in the absence of major investment in the system's expansion, LRTA has resorted to experimenting with and/or implementing other solutions to maximize the use of the system, including having bus feeder lines.[8]

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 meters (4 ft 11 in) tall and/or wide, and persons bringing pets and/or other animals are prohibited from entering the line. Products in tin cans are also prohibited, citing the possibility of home-made bombs being concealed inside the cans.[9]

In response to the Rizal Day bombings and the September 11 attacks, security has been stepped up on board. The Philippine National Police has a special police force,[10] and security police provided by private companies can be found in all stations. All stations have a head guard. Some stations may also have a deployed K9 bomb-sniffing dog. The line 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 the trains. Wanted posters are posted at all stations to help commuters identify known thieves.

The line, like all existing lines in Metro Manila, uses a distance-based fare structure, with fares ranging from fifteen to twenty five pesos (34 to 56 U.S. cents), depending on the destination. Commuters who ride the line are charged ₱15 for the first three stations, ₱20 for 4–7 stations and ₱25 for 8–10 stations or the entire line. Children below 1.02 meters (3 ft 4 in) (the height of a fare gate) may ride for free.

Route Map above the door

Inside the train

The line runs heavy rail vehicles made in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem powered by Toshiba made VVVF inverters 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 the rolling stock of Lines 1 and 3.

Trains in the line prominently use wrap advertising.

In 2017, the entire train fleet was retrofitted with the TUBE (formerly known as PARDS), a passenger information system powered by LCD screens installed near the ceiling of the train that shows news, advertisements, current train location, arrivals and station layouts.[14]

In 2018, the train ventilation was upgraded to replace the aging air-conditioning units and to alleviate complaints of the commuters for uncomfortable hot rides.[15]

The LRTA is also acquiring 14 additional train sets by 2020 to augment the existing 18 sets, due to the expected increase of passengers ahead of the East Expansion, and the West Expansion.[16]

Rolling stock	First-generation[17][18][19]
Image
Year	2003
Manufacturers	Hyundai Rotem and Toshiba
Model	2000 series
Number Built (cars)	72 built (32 cars in service,[20] 4 cars in routine maintenance)
Length	22,500 mm (23,800 mm w/ Couplers)
Width	3,200 mm
Height	4,100 mm (Pantograph lock down)
Electrification	1,500 V DC
Body Material	Stainless steel
Empty Weight	152,000 kg (4 car trainset)[17]
Configuration	MC-TC-TC-MC
Capacity	1628 passengers (232 seated, 1396 standing @ 7 passengers per m2)[18]
Doors	1400 mm wide; Interior sliding type; 5-doors/side
Drive Unit	Gear coupling (WN) Drive
Traction Power	1,500 V single arm pantograph
Traction Controller	IGBT-VVVF Type
Traction Motor	120 kW AC induction motor
Top Speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Ventilation	Air conditioned; roof-mounted duct type
Status	In service

• On May 18, 2019, trainset no. 18 broke down in between the Cubao and Anonas stations at 2:00 PM and was subsequently moved to the emergency pocket track at Cubao station waiting to be towed back to the depot. However at 9:15 PM, the train was reported to have moved on its own from the emergency pocket track towards the eastbound rail track going towards Santolan station. At this time, trainset no. 13 was going towards Santolan station from Cubao station on the same track. The runaway train was reported via radio but eventually ran into train No. 13, injuring 34 passengers, with none in critical condition. The driver of one of the two trains was reported to have jumped out of his train before the collision, sustaining wounds and bruises. Revenue operations were suspended to give way to maintenance checks, and normal operations resumed at 10:47 AM the next day.[26][27]
• On October 3, 2019, a power trip caused rectifier substations located between Anonas and Katipunan stations and in the Santolan depot to catch fire at around 11 in the morning, cutting the line's power supply in the area. Line operations from Recto to Santolan were suspended at 11:24 am, and passengers were evacuated from the line with no injuries. The LRTA, MMDA and the Philippine Coast Guard immediately deployed shuttle buses to help ferry stranded passengers. Partial operations between Cubao and Recto stations resumed on October 8, 2019 while Santolan, Katipunan and Anonas Stations are expected to reopen after nine months. The initial estimated amount of damages is at around PHP428 million.[3] Due to the incident, the Light Rail Transit Authority claimed full operations would be back in 2 to 3 months.[28] As the initial deadline was not met the three stations that were caught in a power trip were expected to resume services at the end of June 2020.[29] However, this deadline was also not met, and as such services were instead expected to resume by January 2021.[30] Another push back occurred, and the three damaged stations are set to reopen in the first quarter of 2021.[22]

• LRTA-Manila Light Rail Transit System: Official Line 2 website