Santa Mesa station


Santa Mesa station is a station on the South Main Line of the Philippine National Railways. Like all PNR stations, the station is at grade. It is located on an unnamed road near Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard in Santa Mesa, Manila, making it one of two stations to have its own access road. The station is named after the district where it is located.
The station is the fourth station southbound from Tutuban and is the only Southrail station serving Santa Mesa.
In addition to having its own dedicated access road, Santa Mesa station is also one of three stations 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, 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 MRR to go over the Pasig River, with Pandacan and all the oil refineries and other branch lines, including one right to Malacanang Garden, being constructed right after the Pasig River bridge.

Station Layout

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, the Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, 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 or riding a tricycle from Santa Mesa station.