The Philippine National Railways (PNR) will temporarily stop operating in Metro Manila starting March 28, 2024 to expedite the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).
During the suspension of PNR operations in Metro Manila, the construction is seen expedited by eight months and allow government to save at least P15.18 billion from the project.
According to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, PNR services will be suspended to ensure safety while construction is underway.
The DOTr and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have arranged alternative bus routes to cater to passengers who will be affected by the suspension. Buses on the Tutuban route to Alabang and vice versa are expected to drop off and pick up passengers near the current PNR route.
The southbound buses will pass through Divisoria (Tutuban), Mayhaligue Street, Abad Santos Avenue, Recto Avenue, Legarda Street, Quirino Avenue, Nagtahan Flyover, Mabini Bridge, Quirino Avenue, Osmeña Highway, Nichols Entry, SLEX, Bicutan Exit, Bicutan Entry, and Alabang (Starmall).
The northbound buses will pass through Alabang (Starmall), Manila South Road, East Service Road,
Alabang (Entry), SLEX, Bicutan Exit, Bicutan Entry, Nichols Exit, Osmeña Highway, Quirino Avenue, Legarda Street, Recto Avenue, Abad Santos Avenue, Mayhaligue Street, and Divisoria (Tutuban).
The bus trips on the Tutuban-Alabang (Southbound) route will start at 7:30 AM, 9:10 AM, 3:00 PM, 3:20 PM, 7:30 PM, and 9:00 PM. On the other hand, the bus trips on the Alabang-Tutuban (Northbound) route will start at 5:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:45 AM, 5:00 PM, and 6:10 PM.
The NSCR, a 147-kilometer rail line, is expected to cut travel time from Clark, Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna in less than two hours.
Expected to accommodate 800,000 passengers per day, the NSCR is designed to decongest Metro Manila traffic and strengthen economic growth in all the cities and municipalities the line passes through.
