The Philippines’ major railway lines are expected to eventually carry up to 5 million passengers daily once the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), Metro Manila Subway, MRT Lines 3 and 7 and other rail systems become operational. The expanded network is expected to shift more commuters from roads to rail while improving travel times, accessibility and fares.
The 2027 National Expenditure Program proposes PHP197.30 billion (USD3.46 billion) for rail transport, including PHP123.84 billion (USD2.17 billion) for the NSCR and PHP67.44 billion (USD1.18 billion) for the Metro Manila Subway. The two projects account for nearly 97 per cent of the proposed rail allocation. Partial commercial operations of 12 MRT-7 stations are targeted for the second quarter of 2027, while the West Valenzuela–Malolos section of the NSCR is targeted for partial operations by December 2027. Full Metro Manila Subway operations are projected by 2032, subject to sustained funding.