Final MRT-7 stations to break ground in 2026, completion set for 2028

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced that civil works for the last two stations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) are scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion expected by the fourth quarter of 2028.

DoTr spokesperson for business infrastructure Maricar L. Bautista said the final stations—Tala in Caloocan City and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan—will mark the completion of the 23-kilometer commuter rail line connecting Quezon City to northern Bulacan.

The San Jose del Monte stop was relocated earlier this year to a site near the boundary of the city and north Caloocan, following an agreement between the DoTr and the local government. The original site, near the Muzon-Tungkong Mangga Road intersection, faced right-of-way challenges that contributed to delays.

Despite setbacks, the MRT-7 project is moving closer to its goal. The first 12 stations are expected to be fully operational by 2027, while the final two will follow a year later. The line is projected to initially serve 300,000 passengers daily, with ridership expected to climb to 850,000 passengers a day by its 12th year of operations.

The project is being financed and developed by San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which will also operate the system under a 25-year concession agreement. In April, SMC MRT-7 Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of SMC, signed an operations and maintenance services deal with Korea Railroad Corp. to help fast-track the project.

Originally scheduled for completion in 2019, the MRT-7 has experienced repeated delays. Partial operations were previously targeted for late 2021, a goal that was not met.

Still, the project remains one of the government’s most anticipated mass transit undertakings. Once completed, MRT-7 is expected to ease congestion along Commonwealth Avenue and improve commuter access between Metro Manila and Bulacan.