The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced the arrival of a new eight-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trainset built for the Malolos-Tutuban segment of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR). This marks the fourth trainset secured for the project.
Transportation Secretary Giovani Lopez said the newly delivered unit has passed strict inspections to confirm it is safe and fit for passenger service once the railway line opens. He emphasized the administration’s focus on timely and quality infrastructure delivery.
“The President’s standing instruction to the DOTr is to fast-track the completion of projects that will provide faster, more efficient, and comfortable travel for commuters,” Lopez said. “We will ensure that we meet target dates without compromising the quality and safety of these projects for our passengers.”
The trainset was supplied by Japan Transport Engineering Company and Sumitomo Corporation under Contract Package 03 of the railway development initiative.
The DOTr aims to finish the N1 or Valenzuela-Malolos, Bulacan section of the NSCR by December 2027. Full operations across the line are projected to start in the fourth quarter of 2028.
Spanning 147 kilometers from Valenzuela to Clark, Pampanga, the NSCR is designed as a key transport backbone linking Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon. It will feature 35 stations upon full completion.
The railway is set to vastly improve mobility by offering a faster, more reliable alternative to road travel along one of the country’s busiest transport corridors. When fully operational, it is expected to serve about 800,000 passengers daily and cut travel time between Clark, Pampanga, and Calamba, Laguna from four hours down to just two hours.
