V. Mapa station

V. Mapa
General information
Location	Magsaysay Boulevard Santa Mesa & Sampaloc, Manila Philippines
Coordinates	14°36′14″N 121°1′1″E
Owned by	Department of Transportation
Operated by	Light Rail Transit Authority
Line(s)	LRT Line 2
Platforms	Side platforms
Tracks	3 (2 for regular service, 1 reserve track)
Connections	Buses, jeepneys, and tricycles
Construction
Structure type	Overpass
Parking	Yes (SM City Santa Mesa, Hotel Sogo)
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	VM
History
Opened	April 5, 2004
Previous names	G. Araneta
Services
Preceding station Manila LRT Following station J. Ruiz towards Antipolo LRT Line 2 Pureza towards Recto
Location

V. Mapa station is a station on the Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2. It is one of the many elevated stations that can be found on the line and also one of the four stations in the line with a reserve track nearby (in front of the UERMMC) together with Santolan, Anonas and Araneta Center–Cubao. The station during its inception was formerly called as "G. Araneta Station" but was renamed into the current name due to the minor realignment of some stations (the other being Betty Go-Belmonte) that has caused the change of proximity to the V. Mapa Street. The station serves the areas of Santa Mesa, Manila, Quezon City, and San Juan. The station is located at Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, near its intersection with Victorino Mapa Street in Santa Mesa, Manila.

The station is the eighth station for trains headed to Recto and the fourth station for trains headed to Santolan. The station has a standard layout, with a concourse level and a platform level. The concourse is below the platform, with stairs, escalators, and elevators leading up to the platform level. The levels are separated by fare gates. The station is also sometimes referred to as Santa Mesa Station.

It is named after its location near the junction with V. Mapa Street, which was in turn named after Victorino Mapa, the second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Nearby landmarks

The station is located near SM City Sta. Mesa, Mezza Residences, Hotel Sogo Santa Mesa, DormTel Santa Mesa, and several prominent universities, the Central Colleges of the Philippines, Immaculate Heart of Mary College, and the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.

Shops and services

Inside the concourse of the station are several stalls where people can buy food and drinks. The station is connected to Hotel Sogo Santa Mesa, making it more accessible. Safety notices are found within sight inside the station both in English and Filipino languages.

Transportation links

There are numerous transportation links that are served by various public transport vehicle modes which can be used to navigate in and around the area. The station is situated near SM City Sta. Mesa, one of the premier malls in the country, which increases the number of passengers using the station. The station is also the most accessible for commuters heading to Greenhills and the Ortigas business districts, due to buses bound to Cainta and Taytay traversing the Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard–Gregorio Araneta Avenue–N. Domingo route on the way to Ortigas Avenue a few miles away.

Station layout

L3 Platforms	Side platform, doors will open on the right
	Platform A	← Line 2 towards Antipolo
	Platform B	→ Line 2 towards Recto →
	Side platform, doors will open on the right
L2	Concourse	Faregates, Ticketing Machines, Station Control, Shops, Bridgeway to Hotel Sogo
L1	Street Level	SM City Sta. Mesa, Hotel Sogo