Ah, Plaridel Station—a humble slice of Philippine railway history tucked away in Quezon Province. Originally known as Siain Station, it first opened its doors (or rather, its single concrete platform) back in 1916, back when trains were the hot new thing and people still believed the Bicol Express would always be on time.
At the time, the station was technically in Atimonan, but in a plot twist worthy of a local government reshuffle, the area became its own municipality—Plaridel—in 1962, and the station loyally changed its name like a rebranded fast-food chain. Despite the name change and the decades of wear and tear, the station is still very much in existence, although currently not seeing any use.. Sure, it’s no Grand Central, but it did serve long-distance trains like the Bicol Express during years those trains decide to grace us with their presence.
Strategically plopped down next to a beautiful section of the Pan-Philippine Highway (that’s the Maharlika Highway for the romantics) and near Siain Port, the station is actually in a great spot for travelers who love the idea of combining trains, boats, and endless bus rides into a single exhausting journey. Need a transfer? Just step off the platform and you’re practically on the highway already. Multimodal transport at its most... rustic.....well it will be once their bottys get into gear and reopen it.
Plaridel town itself isn’t exactly sprawling—it’s the smallest municipality in Quezon, with a population just shy of 11,000. But don’t let its size fool you; it’s got coastline, history, and an attractive little train station (refurbished not so long ago), which is more than some cities can say. The station’s real moment of glory? Acting as a passing loop, where trains going opposite directions can pause, wave at each other, and move along—because sometimes trains need a meet-cute, too.
So, while it may not have air conditioning, digital boards, or a coffee kiosk, Plaridel Station does have one thing: character. And really, in a world of sterile transport hubs and delayed flights, isn’t that something to be proud of?
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