Articulated LRVs for Line 1 of Manila’s Light Rail Transit Authority

Manila’s Line 1 opened in 1985 as an entirely elevated north-south route in the capital region. The first capacity expansion was undertaken in 1999. Ridership continued to increase rapidly, so a second capacity expansion was initiated with a special loan from the Japanese government, to increase the number of railcars and to upgrade and enhance infrastructure, especially the signaling system.
A joint venture of Sumitomo Corporation and Itochu Corporation received the order. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. was given responsibility for the ground-based equipment, while the manufacture of the railcars was entrusted to Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd. and Nippon Sharyo, Ltd.