MRT7 Trains Set for Trial Runs by Late 2025, Full Operations in 2026 — San Miguel Corp.

The long-anticipated Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7) is on track to begin train testing by the end of 2025, with full operations expected in 2026, according to operator San Miguel Corporation (SMC).

Spanning 22 kilometers from Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, the elevated railway aims to drastically ease travel along the congested Commonwealth Avenue corridor.

SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon Ang confirmed the timeline following the signing of an operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement with Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), which will support the development of the line’s core systems and operational safety protocols.

Despite earlier delays caused by right-of-way issues, Ang emphasized that progress is steady, and the partnership with KORAIL marks a critical milestone.

Under the agreement, KORAIL will begin work with SMC MRT-7 Corp. in July 2025. Their focus will include pre-operation preparations, technical system stabilization, and long-term support to ensure seamless daily operations post-launch.

Trainsets for the MRT7, supplied by South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem, began installation in 2021.

KORAIL President Han Moon Hee expressed strong confidence in the collaboration, stating that it could set a benchmark for future rail systems in the Philippines.

Once completed, MRT7 will connect 14 stations:
North Avenue, Quezon Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala, and San Jose del Monte.

The project originally launched in 2016 as part of a public-private partnership between the Department of Transportation and SMC.