1875 The Spanish government issues an order to plan a Philippine railroad.
1887 Construction of the 196-km Manila-Dagupan railway begins.
1905 Meralco, or Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company, operates the “Tranvia,” an electric street tramway that carried about 220,000 commuters. Services stopped before WW2.
June 20, 1964 The Philippine National Railways is created through Republic Act 4156.
1966 The Philippine Monorail Transit Systems, Inc., receives the franchise to build and operate a monorail system.
July 12, 1980 Former president Ferdinand Marcos creates the Light Rail Transit Authority.
Sept., 1981 Construction of Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 1, or “Metro rail,” begins at Taft Avenue.
Dec. 1, 1984 The Taft line officially opens.
1985 The Pasig River LRT bridge is completed. In May, the Rizal Avenue line is put into service.
Sept. 22, 1997 Three overloaded train coaches break free from its engine car and collided with another train in Muntinlupa City, killing 10 and hurting 200 others.
Dec. 15, 1999 Partial operation of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) begins.
July 21, 2000 MRT starts full operation, from Quezon City to Pasay City.
Dec. 29, 2001 Overloaded jeep collided with a train in Camarines Sur, killing six and hurting 18 others.
June 29, 2002 A cargo train hits a passenger jeep in San Pablo City, killing four and hurting 14 others.
April 5, 2003 LRT Line 2, or “Megatren,” opens to the public, servicing routes covering Santolan to Cubao.
April 5, 2004 Legarda Line is opened.
Oct. 29, 2004 LRT Line 2 turns fully operational with the opening of the Claro M. Recto station.
Nov. 12, 2004 Eight people die and a hundred others are hurt when a speeding train derails from its track and falls down a ravine in Barangay Duhat, Padre Burgos town in Quezon.
Reagan D. Tan with reports from www.lrta.gov.ph, www.mrt3dotc.gov.ph, Philippine Daily Inquirer Archives
