PNR’s ‘Bicol Express’ to resume running July 1
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NAGA CITY—More than four years since Super typhoon “Reming” derailed its commercial run from Manila to Bicol, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) is set to run again on July 1.
The PNR will run a six-coach train from Naga City to the Tutuban Station in Manila, and another from Manila to Naga City, said Constancio Toledano, manager of the South Railways’ Area 3 covering routes from Tagkawayan, Quezon to Legazpi City, Albay.
He said the trip would last less than 10 hours. Diesel-fed engines would pull the coaches.
A fare rate of P700-P800 would be charged for air-con sleeper coaches and at least P300 for the reclining seat coaches.
Toledano said there would be two air-con sleeper coaches: a 28-person capacity coach with a double-deck bed in one room and a 38-person capacity coach with two double-deck beds in one room.
He said there will also be two reclining seat coaches with a carrying capacity of 68 and 72 persons.
Another coach will serve as dining car for passengers, he said.
Toledano said the PNR would conduct two test runs on June 22 and June 28 before the July 1 commercial run.
He said it took the train nine hours and 50 minutes to reach Naga City from Manila during a test run on May 22 that carried top PNR officials, several journalists and guest passengers.
A return trip on May 23 took nine hours and 35 minutes, said Toledano.
Toledano said the PNR would expand its Bicol commercial run as soon as 10 motorized train cars and 40 trailer cars donated by the Japanese government arrive in July.
He described the motorized train cars as akin to buses with one coach attached to an engine and with accommodations for passengers. It pulls several other passenger trailer cars.
The current PNR train has a separate coach to house the engine which consumes more fuel than motorized train cars that are similar to buses in terms of fuel efficiency.
The arrival of the train cars from Japan would allow the PNR to service short distance routes, said Toledano.
