The Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS) may soon have a new patron in Light Rail Manila, operator of the LRT-1 train system. In 2025, it was reported that the company submitted an initial proposal to take over the project, and recently, ABS-CBN reported that the bid is now undergoing the “formal approval process.”
Separately, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) mentioned that it aims to have the UGCS operational by the second quarter of 2027. Construction on the station started in 2017, but after several delays, the agency canceled its contract with the original builders, BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying, in May 2025.
The planned opening of the UGCS should coincide with the expected completion date of the MRT-7. Both are slated for 2027, and once complete, the station will connect the new train line to the LRT-1 and the MRT-3.
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The Metro Manila Subway System (MMSS) will also be accessible through the UGCS, further boosting the urban area’s interconnectivity. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to have the subway in working order by 2028. In March 2026, he authorized the release of P44.17 billion to the DOTr to expedite the construction of the MMSS and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).
While it won’t connect to the central station, the interprovincial NSCR is expected to be partially operational by 2027. Once fully completed, it will extend from New Clark City, Tarlac, to Calamba, Laguna. A one-way trip is expected to take less than three hours.
