Construction on the country's train systems is underway, notwithstanding challenges from the pandemic and recent typhoons, the Department of Transportation said Friday.
The Philippine National Railways did a ceremonial lifting of its first pre-cast segment for the Clark Phase 1 project which will connect Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan once complete.
The pre-cast segment or girder, is one of the main components of the rail line construction and follows international railway construction guidelines.
The PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban - Malolos) project, which is part of the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, runs for 38 kilometers and is projected to serve 300,000 passengers daily once operational. It aims to cut travel time between Manila to Bulacan to 35 minutes from 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The NSCR mega railway will consist of the PNR Clark Phase 1, along with the PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos to Clark) and PNR Calamba. The integrated railway is part of the Build, Build, Build project and runs for a total of 148 kilometers.
Once fully operational, the NSCR is expected to have 37 stations with 464 train cars to ferry an estimated 830,000 passengers daily.