View source for Central Terminal (LRT)

{{Short description|Train station in Manila, Philippines}}
{{for|articles with similar names|Central station (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox station
| name               = Central Terminal
| other_name         = Arroceros <br> Lawton
| type               = 
| symbol             = 1
| symbol_location    = manila
| map_type           = Philippines City of Manila#Metro Manila#Luzon mainland#Philippines
| map_caption        = Location in [[Manila]]##Location in [[Metro Manila]]##Location in [[Luzon]]##Location in the Philippines
| image              = Central Terminal Platform.jpg
| image_caption      = The platform of the station
| address            = Antonio Villegas Street, [[Ermita]], [[Manila]], [[Metro Manila]], [[Philippines]]
| owned              = [[Department of Transportation (Philippines)|Department of Transportation]]<br />[[Light Rail Manila Corporation]]
| line               = {{rail color box|system=Manila LRT|line=1|inline=yes}}
| platform           = 2 (2 [[side platform|side]])
| other              = {{rint|bus}} Lawton Park N' Ride <br> {{rint|bus}} Manila Multimodal Terminal <br> [[File:PasigRiverFerryServiceLogo.png|20px|link=Pasig River Ferry Service]] Lawton Ferry Station
| tracks             = 2
| accessible         = 
| bicycle            = [[Bicycle parking rack|Bicycle rack]]s
| parking            = Yes (Lawton Park N' Ride, [[Universidad de Manila|UDM]], [[Bonifacio Shrine]], SM City Manila)
| structure          = Elevated
| code               = CT
| zone               = 
| opened             = {{start date and age|1984|12|01}}
| rebuilt            = 
| passengers         = 
| pass_year          = 
| pass_percent       = 
| services           = {{Adjacent stations|system=Manila LRT|line1=1|left1=Carriedo|right1=United Nations}}
}}
'''Central Terminal''', formerly and widely known as '''Arroceros station''', is an elevated [[Manila Light Rail Transit System|Light Rail Transit]] (LRT) station located on the [[LRT Line 1 (Metro Manila)|LRT Line 1]] (LRT-1) system in [[Ermita, Manila|Ermita]], [[Manila]]. A popular name for the station is Arroceros due to its proximity to the [[Arroceros Urban Forest Park|Arroceros Forest Park]]; Arroceros is also the former name of Antonio Villegas Street, where the station is located.

Central Terminal is the last station of LRT-1 south of the [[Pasig River]] and serves as the fourteenth station for trains headed to [[Fernando Poe Jr. station|Fernando Poe Jr.]] and the twelfth station for trains headed to [[Dr. Santos station|Dr. Santos]]. The station was named as such due to its initial central location in the line, having been the tenth station for trains headed to both [[Monumento station|Monumento]] and [[Baclaran station|Baclaran]]. Opened on December 1, 1984, as part of the line's initial section known as Taft Line (after [[Taft Avenue]], where most of the section's stations are located), it was the line's initial northern terminus, known as Arroceros, until [[Carriedo station|Carriedo]] was opened on April 14, 1985.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://pssc.org.ph/wp-content/pssc-archives/Philippine%20Planning%20Journal/Vol%20XVII,%20No.%201%20(Oct%201985).pdf|title=The LRT as a Component of Metro Manila's Transport Systems|journal=Philippine Planning Journal|volume=XVII|number=1|date=October 1985|publisher=School of Urban and Regional Planning, [[University of the Philippines]]|accessdate=November 16, 2024|pages=33–45}}</ref>

Located in Manila's [[University Belt]], the station is near educational institutions such as the [[Colegio de San Juan de Letran]], the [[Philippine Normal University]], the city-owned [[Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila]], the [[Mapúa University]], and the [[Lyceum of the Philippines University]]. All these institutions, except the [[Philippine Normal University]], lie within the former [[Captaincy General of the Philippines|Spanish]] walled city of [[Intramuros]]. It is also near some of Manila's major landmarks, such as the [[Mehan Gardens]] and the [[Manila Metropolitan Theater]]. It is also near the [[Manila City Hall]], [[Liwasang Bonifacio]], [[Manila Central Post Office]], Manila Hall of Justice, [[Bonifacio Shrine]], and the [[National Museum of Fine Arts (Manila)|National Museum of Fine Arts]]. SM City Manila is also a nearby shopping center.

Central Terminal is one of the four stations and terminals in the whole LRT-1 system that allow commuters to catch a train going in the opposite direction without paying a new fare due to the station's layout. The other three stops are [[Carriedo station|Carriedo]], [[Balintawak station|Balintawak]], and [[Fernando Poe Jr. station|Fernando Poe Jr.]]

==Transportation links==
As its name indicates, Central Terminal is a major transportation hub for LRT-1 commuters. Next to the station is the Lawton bus terminal, also known as Lawton Park N' Ride, which is served by intercity and intracity buses, jeepneys, and UV Express vehicles. The Manila Multimodal Terminal by the [[Pasig River]] is also located near the station. Taxis also serve the vicinity of the station and of the bus terminal. The Lawton station of the [[Pasig River Ferry Service]] is also located nearby.

==Station layout==
=== Street level ===
[[File:Ermita, Manila Aroceros (Metro Manila; 2023-08-18) E911a 03.jpg|thumb|150px|Bust of [[Andres Bonifacio]] at the station's ground level]]
Central Terminal has a unique layout as the only station on the line with separate street-level exits that bypass the station concourse, which are located on all of its four corners. Access to the station concourse is provided by two large staircases, in which only one is normally in use. Each of the four corner exits on the street level have one-way revolving doors to prevent counterflow entry through these exits.

The street level of the station has multiple shops, stalls, and some street vendors.

=== Station concourse ===
The concourse of the station is much wider than most stations on the LRT-1 mainline, allowing space for more ticket offices and fare gates. Some of the operations offices are also located at the concourse, as well as a restroom.

=== Platform level ===
Each platform of the station has two entrances and two exits. The middle-north and middle-south staircases of each platform provides direct exit access to the street level, while the north staircases on each platform serve as both the entrance and exit of each platform to the station concourse. The south staircases on both platforms are currently not in use. A clinic is located on the south end of the northbound platform.

=== Nearby buildings ===
The northern and middle exits provide access to the Arroceros Forest Park, Lawton Park 'N Ride, Lawton Bus Terminal, the Manila Metropolitan Theater, and the Mehan Gardens. Commuters going to Intramuros and the [[Port Area, Manila|Port Area]] are usually advised to take the Lawton underpass at the Lawton Bus Terminal.

The middle exit provides access to the Metropolitan Trial Court, Maynilad Water Services, Civil Service Commission, and Manila Youth Reception Center.

The southern exits provide access to the [[Manila City Hall]], [[Universidad de Manila]], Office of the Ombudsman, [[Bonifacio Shrine|Bonifacio Park]], [[Philippine Normal University]], [[Adamson University]], [[National Museum of the Philippines]], and SM City Manila.

==See also==
*[[List of rail transit stations in Metro Manila]]
*[[Manila Light Rail Transit System]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{SRTS}}

{{Coord|14|35|34.45|N|120|58|53.84|E|dim:30_region:PH_type:landmark|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Terminal station (LRT)}}
[[Category:Manila Light Rail Transit System stations]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Ermita]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the Philippines opened in 1984]]