PNR to Halt Certain Routes for Five Years to Make Way for the NSCR
Check out which routes will be stopped.
(SPOT.ph) The Philippine National Railways will be suspending selected train-line operations for around five years to make way for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway. This will hasten the massive construction project by eight months and save around P15 billion, according to the Department of Transportation.
Here are the PNR routes being halted for NSCR construction
Starting May, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) lines will be stopping daily services between Governor Pascual, Malabon City and Calamba, Laguna, as well as Alabang, Muntinlupa City and Calamba, Laguna. Meanwhile, the Tutuban-Alabang route is slated to halt operations come October.
Officials plans for the stop in operations should come from the Department of Transportation two months before closure begins, said Undersecretary Cesar Chavez in a statement.
"We need to stop the operation of PNR if we want to finish this project," Chavez was quoted as saying in the Inquirer. "One of the causes of the delay for the South Commuter project and of Manila to Malolos is because of PNR’s continuous operations.”
Since the NSCR will be built mostly on elevated structures, Chavez said continuing train operations will also put the PNR at higher risk of falling debris.
Besides the speeding up of the NSCR construction, the move will also save the government some P15.18 billion since land acquisition and relocation of utilities from Maynilad Water Services Inc. and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines will be able to finish faster.
Also read: Manila to Legazpi City in 4.5 Hours? The PNR Bicol Could Make It Reality
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to issue selected buses special franchises to service the estimated 30,000 PNR passengers that will be affected by the train suspension. If approved by the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board, the buses will take similar routes and make stops near PNR stations.
“May sapat na panahon upang ihanda ang lahat ng mga kinakailangan para ipatupad ang paggamit ng mga alternatibong transportasyon sa mga PNR train,” said Chavez.
The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is a 147-kilometer stretch of urban rail transit connecting New Clark City to Calamba, which will cut travel from four hours to less than two hours. It is set to be completed by 2028 or 2029.
Also read: Clark to Calamba in Less Than Two Hours? The NSCR Wants to Make It Happen