At some point in our history, there was a train service from Manila to Damortis, La Union. That was before it was extended up to Bauang, La Union.
During those times, Baguio passengers would be brought to the Damortis train station through buses from the Benguet Auto Line station at the PNR area which is now occupied by a Jolibee Store, a Caltex gas station and a 7/11 convenience store. Across the road from that cluster is now the Victory Liner Bus station.
At Damortis, they would board a train that went all the way to its Tutuban Station at Divisoria in the heart of the City of Manila. From there the railways would go all the way to Bicol.
The Benguet Auto Line was the subsidiary of the Manila Railroad Company (MERALCO).
Much later, the Philippine National Railways was organized, owned by the government. It took over and ran these companies until they got bankrupt, just like other government operated companies.
In the 1920s there was a plan to extend the train service all the way to Baguio. Thus, tunnels were carved out from the mountains for the rails to go through. Later, these became ordinary roads going to the Asin Hot Springs. The rails were supposed to end at San Roque (the area on your right side when you turn from Naguilian Road towards the Lourdes Grotto) which remained vacant for a long time until it got congested by modern squatters who built big beautiful houses.
Had that rail service been improved and maintained, traffic would not be one of our problems in Baguio City. At the very least, it would not be as grave as it is now. More so if the service, complemented by cable cars, was extended to the Cordillera heartland.
But then again, something in our brains might be in a reverse position that we mistake retrogress to progress.
Is there hope for a change? There just might be. The government still has rights of way over the areas where the rails of the PNR used to occupy before they got stolen when the Chinese were buying scrap iron at high prices.
It would take a miracle. But we are a Christian country. Or are we just pretending to be one?**