Santa Mesa station explained

Santa Mesa
Symbol:PNR
Symbol Location:manila
Map Type:Philippines City of Manila#Metro Manila#Luzon mainland#Philippines
Coordinates:14.6008°N 121.0103°W
Line: South Main Line
Planned: South Commuter
Former: Antipolo
Other:
PUP Ferry Station
Jeepneys, buses, cycle rickshaws
Platform:Side platforms
Tracks:2
Parking:Yes
Rebuilt:
Other Services Header:Out-of-system interchange
Other Services Collapsible:yes
Accessible:Yes
Code:SA
Operator:Philippine National Railways

Santa Mesa station is a railway station located on the South Main Line in the city of Manila, Philippines. It is one of two stations (the other is Pasay Road) in the line to have its own access road.

The station is the fourth station southbound from Tutuban and is the only railway station serving Santa Mesa.

In addition to having its own dedicated access road, Santa Mesa station is also one of three stations (the others being Pasay Road and España) to have its original platforms extended and raised in order to accommodate new PNR diesel multiple units. The original platforms have been retained for the use of Commuter Express locomotives and especially for intercity trains, although Santa Mesa is not designated as a station where these trains can stop. The station used to serve the Santa Mesa-Mandaluyong branch line, also known as Guadalupe line, which used to run up to Antipolo and Montalban. This line has since been dismantled.

History

Santa Mesa was opened on December 22, 1905 as a station originally situated on the Antipolo and Montalban lines. From this station, the Main Line South, as well as its subsequent branch lines which were later abandoned (Naic and Carmona, Cavite; Batangas; Bay, Santa Cruz and Pagsanjan, Laguna; Canlubang, Laguna), branched out southwest from the line heading east southeast to Antipolo and Montalban. Main Line South was constructed not long afterward and was the first railway line of Manila Railroad Company (MRR, later PNR) crossing the Pasig River, with Pandacan and all the oil refineries and other branch lines, including one right to the former site of Philippine Vegetable Oil Company in Santa Mesa, being constructed right after the Pasig River bridge.[1]

Station layout

L1
Platforms
Side platform, doors will open on the right
Platform APNR Metro Commuter towards Tutuban (←)
Platform BPNR Metro Commuter towards Alabang (→)
Side platform, doors will open on the right
L1Concourse/
Street Level
Ticket Booths, Station Control, Shops, Line 2 Pureza Station, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Puregold Sta. Mesa

Nearby landmarks

The station is near landmarks such as the Santa Mesa Public Market, SM City Sta. Mesa, Puregold Sta. Mesa, the main campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), the Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School, and the Philippine headquarters of the Tzu Chi Foundation.

Transportation links

Santa Mesa station is accessible by jeepneys and buses plying the Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard route. Several cycle rickshaw terminals are also located near the station.

A Line 2 station, Pureza, is a short walk from Santa Mesa station. Alternately, commuters may opt to ride tricycles to there.

Reconstruction

Santa Mesa station will be reconstructed as part of the North–South Commuter Railway. The two side platforms at the new station building's fifth level will be the highest in the world from ground level at 29.9m (98.1feet), exceeding Smith–Ninth Streets station's 26.7m (87.6feet).[2]

References

  1. General Map of the Island of Luzon, Phil. Is. Showing the Manila Railroad Company's Railway & Water Lines . 1930 . 1:1,060,000. Bureau Coast and Geodetic Survey Litho. . March 10, 2022 .
  2. Structural Drawings . NSRP Detailed Design Package CP S-02: Santa Mesa station . October 2020 . August 18, 2021.