PNR reopens Caloocan-Makati line, sees faster commute

With the reopening of the Caloocan-Dela Rosa line today, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) hopes to reduce travel time from Caloocan City to Makati City to less than 40 minutes.

In an interview, PNR general manager Jun Magno said that six trains with a capacity ranging from 700 to 1,200 would be fielded on the shuttle line to accommodate an expected 10,000 passengers.

The trains will operate from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the minimum fare set at P15.

The initial run will stop at the following stations: 10th and 5th Avenues in Caloocan; Solis, Blumentritt, España and Sta. Mesa in Manila; and Dela Rosa in Makati City.

Shut down in the early 2000s, part of the Caloocan line was supposed to be utilized for the Northrail project under then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The project was envisioned to link Manila to Malolos, Bulacan province, and further on to Clark, Pampanga.

However, much of the rail tracks lay unused under the Aquino administration while part of the old Caloocan stations was demolished to make way for the North Luzon Expressway Segment 10.

The PNR started working on the revival of the defunct line in March to ease the Makati traffic corridor, Magno said.

In the meantime, the PNR is also working to fast-track the $2.88-billion North-South Commuter Railway which will connect Tutuban to Malolos, Bulacan province.