The Philippine National Railways (PNR) Lucena-San Pablo line is set to reopen before the Duterte administration steps down in June, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced.
In a statement, Tuesday, May 10, DOTr said that PNR Lucena-San Pablo line is vital in restoring the PNR Bicol Express, which will link Metro Manila and the provinces in Southern Luzon, including Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.
Through the PNR Lucena-San Pablo commuter line, travel time between San Pablo to Lucena will be shortened to one hour and 30 minutes.
The railway line will also unlocking the economic potential of Southern Luzon, stimulating commerce in the economic corridors of the provinces of Laguna, Quezon and nearby areas.
Aside from being a passenger commuter service, the PNR Lucena-San Pablo route can also be converted into a commercial or cargo freight service.
"It will be a vital commuter and commercial line for Laguna and Quezon in the immediate term,” DOTrSecretary Tugade pointed out eaier.
Stalled for almost a decade, the PNR San Pablo-Lucena route is a 44-kilometer inter-provincial commuter railway which was part of the commuter train service to Bicol with stations and flag stops for daily commuters or short travels.
In 2012, the rail line operated once every two days.
The PNR Lucena-San Pablo commuter line ceased operation in October 2013, after the collapse of an abutment.
Now, the Lucena-San Pablo loop will operate 10 trips per day, connecting every town in beyween and transporting products inter-province to Manila.
The line will have two terminal stations and four flag stops in between, with travel time of 1 hour and 32 minutes from Lucena, Quezon to San Pablo, Laguna.
Parts of the long-distance rail network’s right-of-way will also be used for PNR's South Long Haul Project, the "Bicol Express”.