The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has awarded the $1.87 billion North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) civil works contracts to the joint venture of Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd., Dong-Ah Geological Engineering Co. Ltd., and the consortium of Lotte Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd., Gülermak Ağır Sanayi İnşaat ve Taahhüt A.Ş. and EEI Corp.
The four contract packages will “bring back the country’s railway system to its former glory and accelerate the country’s economic rebound,” according to DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista.
During its peak years, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) had the most extensive network of railways in the country, operating from Dagupan to Naga.
The first four contract packages include the construction of 31.5 kilometers of railway viaducts, nine elevated stations and one railway depot covering the Muntinlupa to Calamba portion of SCRP.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) loaned $4.3 billion to build 55 kilometers of railways linking Metro Manila and Laguna under the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP).
This will benefit 340,000 passengers per day and slash travel time between Manila and Calamba from 2.5 hours to over half. The SCRP will also connect to the future Metro Manila Subway system.
ADB is also financing the construction of the Malolos–Clark Railway Project, the northern segment of the NSCR.
Over 600,000 passengers are expected to use the entire NSCR system daily by 2040.
The remaining ADB-financed civil works contract packages will be awarded soon, Bautista noted
These will cover the Manila (Blumentritt) to Muntinlupa portion of the NSCR.
Overall, the NSCR will have 35 stations, including three depots, and will run on 51 commuter trains, and seven express train sets.
Once operational in March 2029, the NSCR System will reduce travel time from Clark International Airport to Calamba, Laguna to two hours, and is expected to service 800,000 passengers per day.
Meanwhile, after the Oct. 6 NSCR contract signing, the PNR reopened its Calamba - Lucena - Calamba line traversing the provinces of Laguna and Quezon.
The maiden trip of the re-launched Calamba - Lucena route departed the Calamba Station at 6:30 PM.
The morning trip from Lucena station leaves at 4:50 AM, while the last trip from Calamba is at 6:30 PM.
Running time from Lucena to Calamba is two hours and 33 minutes while the running time from Lucena to San Pablo is one hour and 32 minutes.
The minimum fare from Lucena to San Pablo is priced at P15, while the minimum fare from Lucena to Calamba is priced at P20.
The reopened line will offer nine flag makeshift stops along Pansol, Masili, Los Banos, College, IRRI, Tiaong (Lalig), Candelaria, Lutucan, and Sariaya. The main stations will be located in Lucena, San Pablo, and Calamba.