Tranvía

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Tranvía was Manila’s streetcar system, serving the city and nearby towns from the late 1800s into the mid-20th century. It began under Spanish rule with horse-drawn trams, then added steam traction on some lines, and finally electric trams under American management.

History and routes
- The system was built by Compañia de los Tranvías de Filipinas. The first line, Tondo, opened in 1883, followed by Intramuros in 1886, Sampaloc in 1887, Malabón (the first steam line) in 1888, and Malate in 1889.
- The Malabon line became the most successful and even used a double-deck passenger car at one point.
- By 1905, the tramways were electrified and operated under Meralco (Manila Electric Company), which had taken over the lines from the Spanish-era company.
- An extension from Paco to Fort McKinley and Pasig began service in 1913. By 1924 Meralco ran about 170 streetcars, with a network that connected many parts of Manila.

Power, track, and operation
- The system used an overhead electric line at up to 500 volts and ran on a standard track gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in).
- Total track length was about 45.4 km, with roughly 33 km of single track and 12.7 km of double track.
- Early Manila lines were mostly horse-drawn; steam power ran only on the Malabon line. Electric trams gradually replaced older forms of propulsion.

Decline and end
- World War II badly damaged the tram system. After the Battle of Manila, tracks were dismantled and the fleet scrapped.
- Postwar, buses and jeepneys became the dominant transport, and Meralco continued to focus on electricity supply.
- A few remnants of the old tramway can still be found near Recto Avenue and Dagupan Extension, close to the old Tutuban station.

Legacy and modern plans
- Meralco’s railway-era work influenced later Philippine rail projects, and MRail (a Meralco affiliate) has been involved in rail maintenance and rehabilitation elsewhere.
- In 2019, a plan by Greenergy Holdings proposed building a 10 km tram along Roxas Boulevard to serve as a feeder to the Makati Subway, signaling interest in reviving tram travel in Manila.