Interim operations of the Unified Grand Central Station, also known as Common Station, are expected to start in the first quarter of 2028. This was confirmed by the Department of Transportation secretary Giovanni Lopez in an interview with 105.9 True FM.
Lopez further explained that the concourse, platform, and an access way to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 via Trinoma should be in working order by 2028. These structures should already allow commuters to traverse the connected train lines without crossing the sidewalks outdoors.
For the uninitiated, the Common Station will link the Metro Manila Subway, the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Line 1, the MRT-3, and the unfinished MRT-7. In separate statements, the DOTr and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ensured that the latter would be partially open by 2027.
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In April earlier this year, Light Rail Manila, the operator of the LRT-1, submitted a proposal to complete construction. In the same interview, Lopez did not mention whether the proposal was approved or which corporation is leading the final works.
The Common Station has been a highly anticipated project for commuters since it broke ground in 2017. Back then, the station was originally scheduled to open in 2021, but it would fall victim to a series of long, arduous delays.
However, 2028 may finally be the year the station opens. From the photos shared, it looks like construction is moving along, with staircases, rails, and platforms nearing completion. Around 500,000 commuters are expected to utilize the Common Station daily once it becomes fully operational.
More photos of the Unified Grand Central Station as of July 2026:
