On May 29, 1906, the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 1497, granting the Philippine Railway Company the authority to operate railway lines in Iloilo, Negros, and Cebu. The Cebu railway project was led by prominent American businessmen, including Cornelius Vanderbilt III and Charles M. Swift, reflecting the colonial government’s push to modernize transportation and trade.
Cebu once had a significant 90-kilometer railway system, the Old Cebu Railway, operated by the Philippine Railway Company from 1911 to 1942, connecting Danao to Argao via Cebu City, primarily moving sugarcane, coal, and passengers, but it was destroyed during World War II and never rebuilt
The most significant hub of the Cebu railway was the Central Train Station, located on a site that now spans from the South Bus Terminal to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). This central depot served trains traveling between Argao in the south and Danao in the north. The station was destroyed during World War II and was never reconstructed.
The Cebu Railway stretched approximately 56 miles from Danao City in the north to Argao in the south, with at least 14 stations along the route. These stations included Danao City, Maslog, Mandaue, Mabolo, Cebu City, San Isidro, Mohon, Calajo-an, Naga City, Sab-ang, Sibonga, Valladolid, Carcar City, and Argao. While most station buildings no longer exist, remnants such as bridge foundations can still be found in areas like San Fernando, Argao, and Carcar.
Railway stations were classified into three types: first-class stations located in major town centers, second-class stations situated just outside main towns, and third-class stations serving rural areas. The Danao Rotunda functioned as a first-class station and was a major turnaround point where trains refueled with coal sourced from nearby mountains and remained overnight before returning to Cebu City.
Other notable stations included the Maslog station, a second-class facility whose ruins still stand in Sitio Estasyonan; the Mandaue station in present-day Basak, which was demolished in the 1970s; and the Mabolo station, known from historical records but with no surviving images. The San Isidro station, now part of the Belleza Compound, retains only its foundations, while the Mohon station—built to support the sugar industry—still shows remnants such as rails and lamp posts.
The Cebu railroad system ultimately ceased operations during World War II due to severe damage to tracks and facilities. The destruction was so extensive that rehabilitation was deemed impractical. Despite the loss of this railway network, Cebu continued to grow as a regional center of trade. Today, the island’s railway history lives on mainly through scattered ruins and the memories of older generations who recall a time when trains connected communities across Cebu.
Sources and more reading:
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Turismo Central Luzon
Cover image:
Credits to Memories of Old Cebu Facebook Group by SB Montes
