Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), is an under-construction rapid transit line across Metro Manila in Philippines, with its phase-1 with 14-stations on route from Bulacan (San Jose del Monte) in the northeast to Quezon City (North Triangle Common Station in North Avenue) in the southwest expected to become partially operational in 2027.

MRT-7 will be expanded to a network in phases, including a main loop-line as an extension of the present line, as well as several other phased extensions such as the New Manila International Airport Link, the West Rail Link, Manila North Harbor-North Avenue Common Station Link, etc.

History 1993–2015: early planning and delays A route envisaged under the 1993 Traffic and Transport Management Plan, named Metro Manila LRT Line-4, with various alignment suggestions. on the suggestions of Japan International Cooperation Agency was later split into MRT-7 and the MRT Line 8 in 1999. On August 27, 2001, an early proposal of the MRT-7 project was submitted to the government, and in 2008 a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) was contracted to build the line.

In May 2012, SMC awarded the construction contract to the joint venture of Marubeni Corporation and DMCI, which was approved by the government of President Benigno Aquino III on 21 November 2013 on a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

2016–2028: Phase-1 construction On April 20, 2016, 15 years after initial development began the President Benigno Aquino III held the ground breaking ceremony, but the actual construction on the phase-1 line officially started on August 15, 2017. The project also includes construction of a highway from the NLEX Bocaue Interchange, up to the proposed intermodal transport terminal (ITT) located near San Jose del Monte station.

Overview

Rolling stock & depot

There are 36 Hyundai Rotem trainsets or 108 train cars costing $440.2 million, configured into 3 cars per train set expandable up to 6 cars per train set, have been acquired. The trains will maintain an at-grade depot in Quezon City, capable of handling 150 trains sets.

Route

The route has 14 stations with North EDSA as an interchange with the other metro lines such as the Line 1 and Line 3.

+ Legend†Future terminus

List of stations No. Station Distance (km) Structure type Connections Location Betweenstations Total North EDSA † — 0.000 Elevated

Quezon City Quezon Memorial Circle 1.665 1.665 Depressed 0.837 2.502 Depressed 1.664 4.166 Elevated 2.254 6.420 Elevated 0.976 7.396 Elevated 1.390 8.786 At-grade 1.472 10.258 Elevated Regalado Avenue 1.145 11.403 Elevated 3.416 14.819 Elevated 0.800 15.619 Elevated 2.642 18.621 Elevated Caloocan 2.625 20.886 Elevated † Elevated San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

Rolling stock

The line will be operated with 108 rail cars in a three-car configuration. Hyundai Rotem was awarded a $440.2 million contract to supply 108 metro cars, which will be configured into 36 train sets (3 cars per train set, with plans of expanding up to 6 cars per train set). The contractual scope also includes signalling, communications, and power supplies for the metro line. All ordered trainsets have undergone the necessary testing and trials. After being stored in South Korea since 2018 due to a lack of a depot, the 108 railcars are already in the process of being shipped to the Philippines.

The first batch of two three-car trainsets arrived in the country on September 6, 2021. The trains were then brought from the Port of Manila to Commonwealth Avenue and were laid on the tracks near the station from September 11 and 12. On the other hand, the trains are seen to begin test runs by April 2022. As of December 2021, six trainsets were delivered and laid on the tracks near Tandang Sora station, with the latest deliveries of two trains that were laid in November 2021. The trains were unveiled on December 16, 2021. On November 22, 2023, a series of test trials were made for the train sets parked along Commonwealth Avenue, located between Tandang Sora Station and Don Antonio Station, while test runs within the North Avenue-Mindanao Avenue segment began on the 4th quarter of 2025. The test runs on December 1, 2023 were also overseen by SMC Chairman Ramon Ang, alongside officials from Hyundai Rotem, Korail, and Rhodium 688. As of March 4, 2025, 35 train sets, which consisted of 105 train cars, have been delivered into the country and are currently stored within the MRT 7 Depot.

Rolling stock specifications Rolling stock First-generation Image Year 2018–2019 Manufacturer Hyundai Rotem Model Class 000 Number built 108 cars (36 sets) Formation 3/6 cars Car Length DM: T: Train Length Width Height Body material Stainless steel Weight Configuration DM1-T-DM2 Capacity 1,168/2,336 passengers Doors Pocket sliding; 4 doors per side Drive unit Gear coupling (WN) Drive Traction power Traction control IGBT–VVVF Traction motor 3-phase AC induction motor Top speed Braking system Electro-pneumatic Safety system(s) ATP Acceleration Deceleration (Service) (Emergency) Gauge Coupling Shibata close-contact Status

Future phases

Phase 2A (MRT 7 Extension)

Phase 2A will be an extension of the Phase 1 route to Tutuban station. The backtrack section from North Triangle Common Station is where Phase 2A shall begin from.

Station Connections Location Nearest Landmarks rowspan="5" Quezon City Capitol Medical Center, St. Mary's College Fisher Mall, Amoranto Sports Complex Santo Domingo Church, UST Angelicum College Welcome Rotonda, National Labor Relations Commission Manila Trabajo Market University of Santo Tomas San Sebastian Church, University Belt (Mendiola Street section) Isetann Recto, Manila City Jail Tutuban Center (Old Tutuban Station), Divisoria

Phase 2B (West Line)

Phase 2B will be an extension from Phase 2A from Tutuban station and an airport rail link to the New Manila International Airport.

Station Connection Location Nearest Landmarks Manila Tutuban Center (Old Tutuban Station), Divisoria North Port Passenger Terminal rowspan="3" Manila North Harbour Navotas Navotas Fisheries Port Complex Bulakan, Bulacan New Manila International Airport

Phase 3 (Airport Access)

Phase 3 will extend the Phase 1 route from San Jose Del Monte station to Marilao, along with the planned six-lane highway connecting to the North Luzon Expressway in Bocaue, all of which are located in the province of Bulacan. Just like Phase 2B, it is also an airport rail link connecting the New Manila International Airport.

Station Connections Location Nearest Landmarks rowspan="5" San Jose del Monte Savano Park, SM San Jose Del Monte Starmall San Jose Del Monte San Jose Del Monte New City Hall Santa Maria Santa Maria Municipal Hall Philippine Arena, Philippine Sports Stadium Marilao SM City Marilao Bulakan New Manila International Airport

Phase 4A (Southeast Main Line)

Phase 4A branches off from the "D. Tuazon Station" of Phase 2A and will extend to Taytay, Rizal with 10 new stations running on a northwest–southeast alignment.

Station Connections Location Nearest Landmarks rowspan="3" Quezon City Welcome Rotonda, National Labor Relations Commission De Los Santos Medical Center, St. Luke's Medical Center – Quezon City, Trinity University of Asia Christ the King Seminary, Barangay Mariana Park, Quezon City Sports Club Gilmore Commercial Plaza, St. Paul University Quezon City rowspan="2" San Juan Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Greenhills Shopping Center Mandaluyong EDSA Shrine, La Salle Green Hills, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Robinsons Galleria, Wack Wack Golf and Country Club Pasig Meralco Main Office, The Medical City Sto. Rosario de Pasig Church Cainta, Rizal Robinsons Cainta Taytay, Rizal Taytay Rotonda Monument SM City Taytay

Phase 4B (Southeast Spur Line) Phase 4B will be a spur line of Phase 4A from Meralco Avenue station to V. Mapa station with LRT Line 2, running mostly through Mandaluyong.

Station Connections Location Nearest Landmarks Pasig Meralco Main Office, The Medical City rowspan="2" The Podium, San Miguel Corporation Shangri-La Plaza, SM Megamall Mandaluyong Light Mall, Robinsons Forum rowspan="4" Mandaluyong City Hall, Mandaluyong Colosseum & Civic Center, Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy Kalentong Market, Puregold Kalentong Manila SM City Santa Mesa

Phase 5 (Katipunan Spur)

The last phase, Phase 5, will be a spur line with 9 stations connecting Phase 1 at to Phase 4A at Bonifacio Avenue via an interchange with LRT Line 2 at and .

Stations Connections Location Nearest landmarks rowspan="4" Quezon CityNew Era University, Commonwealth AvenueUniversity of the Philippines Diliman, MWSS, Balara Filters ParkU.P. Town Center, C.P. Garcia Avenue (UP), Brgy. PansolMiriam College, Ateneo de Manila University Xavierville Avenue, Aurora Boulevard, Project 2 & 3 rowspan="2" MarikinaRiverbanks Center, Barangka, Provident VillageMarikina City Hall, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Sumulong Highway Marikina–Infanta Highway, Sta. Lucia East, Robinsons Metro East Cainta, RizalOrtigas Avenue Extension, Cainta Public Market, Robinsons Cainta

Gallery

See also

Transportation in Metro Manila

Notes

References

External links MRT Line 7 (Metro Manila)