Abstract
This paper presents a history of rail-based transportation in Metropolitan Manila. This history focuses on urban transport including rail-based streetcars or trams that started operations in the 1880's but were destroyed during the Second World War and never to be revived. Several plans are discussed. Among these plans are proposals for a monorail network, a heavy rail system, and the more current rail transit plans from recent studies like MMUTIS. An assessment of public transportation in Metro Manila is presented with emphasis on the counterfactual scenario of what could have been a very different metropolis if people could commute using an extensive rail transit system compared to what has been realized so far for the metropolis. Recommendations for the way forward for rail transportation in Metro Manila and further studies are stated in conclusion.
