New Liverpool Rapid Transit Authority
The New Liverpool Rapid Transit Authority or NLRTA for short is a system of trams, trains, and buses, located in New Liverpool, Slokais Islands. The authority is best known for its rapid transit service under the name "NL Metrorail". Although much of the network serves New Liverpool, the authority operates rail lines into the San Fernando and South San Fernando Provinces. NLRTA was created in 1974 as a public agency of the Ministry of Transportation. The NLRTA initially operated lines on existing or disused rights of way created by Slokasian Rail, although, through the 1980s and 90s, multiple new lines were built. In recent years projects have included the Southland Tram Line and the Cross-River Line, and new in-fil stations. In 2023, the system handled over 1.5 billion trips and a daily ridership of 3.7 million people.
History[edit | edit source]
New Liverpool had been served by Slokasian Rail since the 1920s to meet the demands of those traveling into central New Liverpool for work because much of the district was rural before the 1950s, many of these stations were the center of new settlements and industrial developments. During the 1950s, the New Liverpool Mass Transit Committee was created to manage rail and bus transport within the city. After the Great War, multiple planners devised master plans for a "state of the art" rail system. In 1973, NLRTA was created as a public organization with a board of directors being appointed to represent areas being served by the new system. Almost immediately, the Northern, Central, Northrock and Southland lines came under the control of NLRTA, these lines had either been used by Slokasian Rail or an affiliated organization. During the 1970s, these lines had major renovations with stations being built by various private partners. After seeing profitable margins, new track and stations began to be constructed. This included the new Green Line and the Central Line both being the most expensive as they had to be constructed fully underground.
In the 1990s, the focus turned towards the suburbs, with the South River Line being built to Southern New Liverpool and the Northern Line extended to the East Bank District and East Bank Airport. The River Line was also extended across the San Fernando River into South San Fernando Province and eventually New Brighton. The 2000s saw the creation of a tram network in areas underserved by existing rail as well as the creation of the Western Loop, creating the new Circle Line. Much of the recent developments has been extensions or re-developments of Slokasian Rail lines and a new platform for High-Speed Rail at New Liverpool Central.
System[edit | edit source]
Since its opening in 1973, NLRTA has 8 lines and 110 stations across three provinces. The system is generally structured around New Liverpool Central and Federation Circle stations with lines branching out from the two stations. Much of the system is aboveground or at grade, although the Central and Green Lines consist mostly of underground tunnels constructed via the tunnel boring method due to the depth and existing infrastructure of downtown New Liverpool.
| Line | Name | Color | Terminus | Terminus | Stations | Date of Opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Red | Raymond Crossing(New Liverpool) | Newland Hill
(New Liverpool) |
8 | 1984 | |
| Northern | Light-red | Leeland
(South San Fernando) |
John Santos International Airport
(New Liverpool) |
15 | 2005 | |
| Evergreen | Green | San Fernando Circle(New Liverpool) | Wallerton
(South San Fernando) |
10 | 2008 | |
| Riverside | Blue | Merryside Heights(San Fernando) | San Jose Road
(South San Fernando) |
15 | 1994 | |
| Northrock | Yellow | Rosa Villa/Rosa Park(San Fernando) | Briarwoods
(South San Fernando) |
12 | 1987 | |
| Western | Light-orange | Federation Square(New Liverpool) | Xinmen Town
(San Fernando) |
8 | 1994 | |
| Eastern | Orange | Chesswood(New Liverpool) | Buena Vista
(New Liverpool) |
6 | 1984 | |
| East Bank | Turquoise | Capitol Hills(New Liverpool) | New Liverpool Central
(New Liverpool) |
9 | 2010 | |
| Valley | Light-blue | Sun Square(South San Fernando) | Calle Puerto
(New Liverpool) |
7 | 1998 | |
| Silverado | Purple | Calle Puerto(New Liverpool) | Fort Howard-Prince/Bluffton
(New Liverpool/South San Fernando) |
16 | 2015 | |
| Northwestern | Light-yellow | Xinmen Valley(New Liverpool) | Magdagana
(San Fernando) |
5 | 2018 | |
| Circle | Grey | San Fernando Circle(New Liverpool) | Southland Central
(New Liverpool) |
23 | 2012 | |
| JISA Express | Dark-Red | Federation Square(New Liverpool) | JSIA Terminal 3
(New Liverpool) |
7 | 2020 | |
| East Bank Tram | Lavender | Chesswood(New Liverpool) | East Bank Airport
(New Liverpool) |
7 | 2011 | |
| Cross-River Tram | Light-green | Saint Francis(South San Fernando) | Midtown/Judicial Square
(New Liverpool) |
14 | 2017 | |
| Highlands Cable Car | Pink | Newland Hill(New Liverpool) | National Zoological Park
(New Liverpool) |
4 | 2023 |
Fares and Ticketing[edit | edit source]
The NLRTA uses a electronic-pass system and a contactless system since 2015. While having there own pass system known as "New Liverpool Move", card's from Slokasian Rail may also be used although with a small service charge of 50 SM. In addition, San Fernando and South San Fernando Rail Card's can also be used, but only the contactless app version. Base fare's of trip's which remain in the New Liverpool District have a base cost of 250 SM, trips which go to John Santos International Airport cost 300 SM and trips to South San Fernando and San Fernando cost 500 SM. Those over-65 and those under-15 with a valid card may ride for 150 SM regardless of trip. In addition those who qualify for poverty-line assistance (PLA) ride for free with a valid card. Fare evasion was identified as a major problem in 2010 with the NLRTA losing 8.3 billon SM every year. However with reduced prices combined and public-access TV series called "Trouble with the Law: NLRTA Fare Evasion Officers", fare evasion has decreased.