MANILA, Philippines?You haven?t felt the pulse of the city if you haven?t gone for a ride on its overhead railway system.

That was what a top official of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said at the recent official launching of ?Metro by Rail? which offers educational and leisure tours of Metro Manila using both lines of the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit instead of the usual tour bus.

?One can explore every nook and cranny of the metropolis by riding the train,? LRTA administrator Mel Robles said.

He added, ?The tour is mainly a group activity where participants will be treated to a whole new experience through rail-based adventures, featuring a view from the top of Manila?s urban landscape, historic locations and a walk-through of LRTA operations, showcasing newly installed state-of-the-art technologies on signaling and operations control.?

Those interested in taking the tour can choose from four packages. All include a visit to the LRT Line 2 depot in Santolan, Pasig City, where participants can see firsthand how the trains operate.

There will also be an audiovisual presentation on the evolution of public transport in Manila from the calesa (horse-drawn carriage) to the tranvia and, finally, to today?s ubiquitous jeepneys and trains.

One package offers a ride on the Purple Line (LRT Line 2 which traverses Santolan to Recto and vice versa) and Yellow Line (Line 1 which runs from Monumento to Baclaran and vice versa).

Another includes just a ride on the Purple Line while in the Metro Tour package, visitors not only get to ride on both Lines 1 and 2, they also get to hop on the MRT which runs from Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City and vice versa.

The package tours, which come complete with giveaways, are priced from P70 to P140 per head.

Robles said they hope to soon add another component to the tour with the opening of the LRTA Museum and Activity Center.

The museum, he said, would showcase the latest in railway technology for the appreciation of students and enthusiasts. There will also be a children?s center which offers creative, interactive and educational activities to increase visitors? knowledge of the railway industry.

The LRTA also hopes to incorporate walking tours featuring well-known and popular landmarks like Rizal Park and Intramuros which are situated near the route of the three train systems.

LRTA public relations chief Ma. Kristina Cassion told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that they were looking into the possibility of working with travel agencies for the conduct of the walking tours.

Robles said the overhead trains, which can go as fast as 80-kph, are still the fastest and cheapest way of getting around Metro Manila.

Through the Metro by Rail project, the LRTA administrator said they hope ?to make train ridership a way of life.?