Project Profile: Manila LRT-1 Cavite Extension

The Manila LRT-1 Cavite Extension is a critical public-private partnership (PPP) initiative extending the existing light rail system 11.7 kilometers southward into the high-density Cavite province. This project addresses significant transportation demand by integrating a modern, high-capacity commuter rail line into one of Metro Manila’s most congested corridors. It involves the construction of eight new stations, a new satellite depot, and the comprehensive modernization of the line’s signaling and control systems.

Project Fact Sheet

Technical Specifications

The extension’s primary structure is an elevated viaduct composed of pre-stressed concrete pi-girders, designed for durability and minimal ground-level disruption. The route alignment extends from the existing Baclaran Station, traversing major thoroughfares before terminating at Niog, Bacoor. A key technical feature is the at-grade section in Zapote, which accommodates the new Zapote Station and an essential satellite depot for train maintenance and stabling.

A comprehensive system upgrade is central to the project’s scope. Alstom was contracted to supply its Atlas 100 on-board signaling solution for 60 trainsets and to renovate the existing signaling system across the entire LRT-1 line. This migration to a modern Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC)-ready system enhances operational safety, increases train frequency, and maximizes line capacity, ensuring seamless integration between the original line and the new extension.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Decongestion: The extension directly mitigates severe traffic congestion along the Aguinaldo Highway corridor, projected to reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor from over 70 minutes by road to just 25 minutes by rail.
• PPP Model Success: As one of the largest public-private partnership infrastructure projects in the Philippines, its phased implementation demonstrates a viable framework for combining private sector efficiency and investment with public sector goals and oversight.
• Economic Catalyst: The project stimulates transit-oriented development around its eight new stations, boosting property values and commercial activity in Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Bacoor, Cavite, thereby fostering regional economic growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the LRT-1 Cavite Extension be fully operational?

Phase 1 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, covering the first five stations from Redemptorist to Dr. Santos, became operational in late 2024. The subsequent phases, which will extend the line to Las Piñas and Niog in Bacoor, are currently under construction. Full project completion is targeted for the coming years, contingent on right-of-way acquisition and construction progress.

Who is building the LRT-1 Cavite Extension?

The project is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC). LRMC, a consortium including Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Ayala Corporation, and Macquarie Group, holds the concession to operate, maintain, and extend the line. The primary Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the civil works is Bouygues Travaux Publics, with Alstom supplying the new signaling system.