Ayala Malls is expanding and refreshing Trinoma with the construction of The Exchange, a new 40,000sqm wing that connects to the Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS). This addition will see the North Avenue mall transformed into a commercial hub directly linked to the city’s rail system.
The UGCS is meant to connect the MRT-3, the MRT-7, the LRT-1, and the Metro Manila Subway. Aside from directly linking to these train lines, The Exchange at Trinoma will also host a terminal for other public transport options, including buses and vans.
The Exchange is scheduled to begin operations later this year. Aside from transport and parking facilities, it will also have 12,000sqm of retail space and 4,000sqm of office space.
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This setup will somewhat mimic that of One Ayala in the Makati Central Business District, which has its own transit hub and connection to the MRT-3. However, given the purpose of the UGCS as a single common station for quick and convenient transfers across multiple rail lines, The Exchange can expect to see far more foot traffic once the entire complex, including the MRT-7 and the UGCS, is completed.
After facing multiple delays since it broke ground in 2017, the UGCS could begin operations by the second quarter of 2027, according to the Department of Transportation. It recently found a new contractor in Light Rail Manila after the termination of the original contractor a year ago. Construction of the MRT-7 is also still in progress, but it’s set to begin operations also in Q2 of next year.
