“Iron Road.” Does the name Daang Bakal conjure images of a bygone era?
Daang Bakal. It is more than just a road in Manila. It’s a corridor whispering tales of steam trains and forgotten dreams.
Back in 1906, the Manila Railroad Company birthed a 31-kilometer steam train line. This Riverland Express Train became known as the “Marikina Line.” It was also called the Rosario-Montalban branch. This was one of three lines including Cavite and Antipolo.
The Marikina Line once stretched from Rosario in Pasig to Montalban. It passed through Marikina and San Mateo. The line was completed to Marikina in 1906 and fully opened in 1907. The entire Marikina Line was abandoned in 1936.
Today, a road known as Daang Bakal traces this route at Barangay San Roque beside Santa Elena. It includes Shoe Avenue. The Marikina Railway Depot has been replaced. It is now the Marikina Elementary School. The Marikina Railway Station once connected Montalban and Rosario. The route totaled 24.27 kilometers.
Imagine a time before cars choked these streets. Picture steam billowing as the Riverland Express chugs along. It connected communities. It spurred development.
Consider the “what ifs.” What if this railway hadn’t been abandoned? What if it had been developed after World War II? Commuting in Metro Manila might be radically different. People might have chosen trains over cars.
In 2011, a motorist near Daang Bakal in Tondo narrowly avoided one train only to be hit by another. This accident underscores the need for caution around railroad tracks.
Daang Bakal. It is a reminder of grand plans. These plans faded like steam. It’s a testament to lost opportunities. Yet, it also sparks imagination. Could rail transport rise again and reshape Manila’s future?