Road trips are nice, but if you aren't too fond of exerting yourself via a long stint behind the wheel, taking a provincial bus or rail line is still the way to go.
Agree? Then those of you heading down south in the near future will be glad to know that the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Lucena-San Pablo is set to reopen by June 2022. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) shared the news on social media, saying the route is set to resume operations before the current administration steps down.
Besides making the commute down south more convenient, the DOTr says the reopening of the 44km line will also help boost the economy of areas like Laguna and Quezon. The same sentiment was shared by San Pablo City urban development and housing officer Emilio Torres following an inspection of the line held earlier this year.
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PNR Lucena-San Pablo line to reopen by June
"Kung may train, may connectivity at mobility ang bawat bayan gaya ng sinabi ni Secretary [Arthur] Tugade," Torres said in February. "At the same time, yung economic aspects ng San Pablo-'yung mga products namin madadala sa inter-province, sa Manila."
Motorists looking to avoid a rushed drive to Quezon will probably do best to consider taking the PNR Lucena-San Pablo line instead. Via the PNR, travel time between San Pablo City and Lucena City in Quezon is estimated to take an hour and 30 minutes—a commute more straighforward than having to drive through smaller towns like Tiaong and Candelaria.
Frankly, if the drive down south was a scenic, traffic-free one, we wouldn't mind. At times, though, it can be slow and tedious. Will you be taking the PNR once this line reopens?