MANILA – Construction of the long-delayed Unified Grand Central Station, also known as the Common Station, resumed on Wednesday, November 11, with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) targeting its opening by March 2028.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced the resumption of construction on the railway interchange project, which was first planned in 2007 but encountered years of delays before work was halted in 2019.
“It beat all delayed projects in the DPWH,” Dizon remarked, referring to the prolonged setbacks that have affected the project’s completion.
The Common Station is designed to connect four major railway systems: Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) and the Metro Manila Subway.
Once operational, the integrated transport hub is expected to allow commuters to transfer more conveniently between railway lines, reducing travel difficulties and improving connectivity across Metro Manila.
The project is also expected to strengthen the capital region’s public transportation network by providing a central interchange for passengers traveling between different parts of the metropolis.
The resumption of construction marks another step toward completing a major railway infrastructure project that has remained unfinished for nearly two decades since its initial planning.
With the March 2028 target, the DOTr aims to move the project closer to completion and provide commuters with a more accessible and interconnected railway system.
