College Station (also known as UP Los Baños station and Junction station) is a railway station located on the South Main Line in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.
History
American era
The station was built in response to the Los Baños–San Pablo bypass line that aims to cut the travel time from Manila down to the South Main Line compared to the current route that passes through the province of Batangas. This in turn, made the Los Baños section of the Pagsanjan-Sta Cruz Branch line part of the PNR Main Line to Bicol. Now with two rail lines diverging from this station, it became known as the "Junction Station". Over time, it was eventually referred to its present name due to its proximity to the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (now known as University of the Philippines Los Baños).
During its peak, the station become the terminus for the now defunct Pagsanjan Line and consisted of multiple tracks with side and island platforms.
The line was served by the Railmotors of Manila Railroad Company and usually have 5 trips per day.
In the year 1938 to 1939, the island platform and passenger shelters are constructed for the station. One notable structure was the pebbled pillars made by Filipino Architect and National Artist Pablo Antonio.
World War 2
The station was subjected from air attacks when Imperial Japan have invaded the country after the attack on Pearl Harbor. On Christmas Day of 1941, a train on the station was bombed by the invading Japanese forces where 30 passengers have lost their lives. Structures were damaged and caused multiple loss of lives as well. It suffered further damage as the Americans returned to liberate the country and bombed the station as well.
Post-War
After the war, MRR rehabilitated the train lines coming from the station going to Lucena (68.02 km) and part of the Pagsanjan Line (28.38 km). The college-Pagsawitan section was restored on September 1, 1946, after repair works were done on bridges, buildings, and communication lines. The short spur of rail line from Pagsawitan to Pagsanjan was excluded as it was removed by the Japanese during the war. Meanwhile, the college-Lucena section of the Main Line South was also rehabilitated and placed back into operation on February 20, 1947. The first through traffic from Manila to Bicol since the liberation was finally inaugurated after completing repair works of tracks, buildings, structures, and most importantly, the repair of the Palicpic Bridge which was blasted during the war.
Contemporary era
Train service on the station have been repeatedly opened and closed for a variety of reasons such as natural disasters, lack of proper maintenance, and/or lack of rolling stock throughout its history.
Metro Manila Rail Commuter
Philippine National Railways initiated the Metro Manila Railway Commuter project on November 30, 1972, after the opening of the new Tutuban-San Pedro and Carmona route which was expanded later on up to College. The service uses the CMC Railcars plying the 67 km line, offering fast and cheap mode of transport in the province.
Metrotren
The 90's saw the launch of Metrotren Project, also known as Metrotrak, under the leadership of Transportation Secretary Oscar Orbos. It aims to increase ridership on the current commuter line, which serves Calumpit, Bulacan up to Los Baños Laguna, from its present level of 60,000 to about 140,000 daily than the current level. College was rehabilitated and Metrotren logos and markings decorated the station. As of November 2021, some of them are still visible in the station pillars and roof. The service used CMC Railcars refurbished with the new Metrotren Livery.
Commuter Express
On August 3, 2001, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated the new Commuter Express (CommEx) service from Tutuban to College using donated 12 Series Passenger Coaches from Japan, which promised development and more opportunities for the Laguna Residents and the province as a whole.
Services was disrupted again five years later, as Typhoon Milenyo as it ravaged the rail line going to Bicol, primarily the San Cristobal Bridge on Calamba on September 28 with Typhoon Reming following two months later, which further damaged theine and destroying Travesia Bridge in Ligao-Guinobatan Section. The line would not be serviceable until 2010.