The Department of Transportation on Friday said the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and South Long Haul (SLH) rail are game-changing projects seen reviving the country’s rail industry.
Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the NSCR and SLH will elevate the country’s rail lines to global standards while generating jobs, boost economic growth, and ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
“We will build a world-class railroad network, the pride not only in Asia but the entire world. New, modern, and fast trains will run from Clark to Calamba and continue to Bicol.”
Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista
According to him, the NSCR and SLH will provide much needed critical connectivity to Filipinos as the mass rail infrastructures will link Metro Manila to the regions in north and south Luzon.
Bautista added the two projects will generate more jobs, a prosperous economy and a reliable public transportation system.
“There is no doubt the NSCR and SLH Project will usher in the renaissance of the rail industry in the country,” Bautista said.
The 147-kilometer NSCR will have 35 stations and run on 51 commuter train sets and seven express train. It is expected to cut travel time from Calamba, Laguna to Clark, Pampanga from 4.5 hours at present to less than two hours and service 600,000 passengers daily.
The South Long Haul project, meanwhile, is a 33-station railway 577-kilometers long connecting Metro Manila to Batangas and Bicol.
Once completed, the rail line will reduce travel time from Manila to Legazpi from the present 14 to 18 hours to six hours, using regular commuter trains and 4.5 hours, using the line’s express trains.
